Gov. Gregoire�s statement on Museum of Flight�s bid to house retired space shuttle

For Immediate Release: April 12, 2011

OLYMPIA � Gov. Chris Gregoire today issued the following statement on the announcement by NASA that the Museum of Flight in Seattle was not selected to house a retired space shuttle:

�The Museum of Flight put a tremendous amount of effort into landing a retired shuttle in the Pacific Northwest. As the home of modern day air travel and the 747, which has gracefully transported shuttles for the last 30 years, Seattle would have been a perfect fit. While the Museum of Flight was in the top running, I�m disappointed that NASA did not choose them.

�However, the full fuselage trainer, that every astronaut including Bonnie Dunbar has been trained on, will soon call the Museum of Flight home. The largest of the trainers, this addition will allow visitors to actually climb aboard the trainer and experience the hands-on training that astronauts get. Visitors will not be allowed in the other shuttles and this trainer is a true win for our dynamic museum. It will help inspire young people to the adventure of space and to the excitement of a career in science, technology, engineering and math.

�The thousands of people that stepped up to lend their support to this effort show the reach that the Museum of Flight and our aerospace heritage have. I send a big thanks to the museum staff and board, the Legislature, local governments, and most importantly to the countless individuals who signed the online petition and supported the museum�s efforts.�