Politicians throw weight behind museums' shuttle bids

If you thought politics wouldn't play a part in who got a retired space shuttle orbiter, well, nobody really thought that, right?

On Wednesday, the New York Daily News quoted Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., saying a number of sources had told him that New York's Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum has the inside track to land a shuttle.

"I believe we are in good shape," Schumer said. "It's not a done deal, but the arguments we have made about why the shuttle belongs in New York are resonating."

Schumer said in the story that New York has stiff competition from at least two other cities, which he refused to name. He said he is hearing that a decision will be announced in the next "few weeks."

Approximately 20 other sites around the country are competing for the shuttle orbiters Atlantis, Endeavour and Enterprise (which was used to test atmospheric flight) after the retirement of the shuttle fleet later this year. The National Air and Space Museum, in Washington, D.C., is slated to get the shuttle Discovery and give up Enterprise, which currently is on display there.

One of the contestants is Seattle's Museum of Flight. So I queried members of Washington's delegation.

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