Texas Residents Have The Unique Opportunity To Name The Shuttle Replica To Be Displayed At JSC’s Official Visitors Center

Officials with Space Center Houston, the visitors center for NASA’s Johnson Space Center (NASA-JSC), have launched a statewide contest that gives one lucky Texan the opportunity to personally name the full-scale Space Shuttle replica that will sit atop the massive 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA) as part of a new $12 million, six-story attraction currently under development. The “Name the Shuttle” contest will run through Labor Day. It will give Texans the chance to show their support of America’s space program and to honor the men and women who worked on the Space Shuttle Program during its 30-year history.

“A year ago, the nation watched in excitement as the Space Shuttle replica made its historic arrival via barge from the Kennedy Space Center to the banks of Clear Lake,” said NASA-JSC Center Director Dr. Ellen Ochoa. “I’m very pleased that Space Center Houston will be the home of not only this high-fidelity Shuttle replica, but also the NASA 747 as its base. Houston will be the only place on our planet where you can climb onboard the huge SCA and Shuttle and experience the iconic Space Shuttle program in the most dynamic, hands-on environment imaginable.”

To enter the contest, residents can visit nametheshuttle.com and submit an original name that symbolizes the spirit of Texas and its unique characteristics of independence, optimism and can-do attitude. All entrants will receive an email verification of submission and a thank-you coupon for discounted admission to Space Center Houston. A panel of judges will select one winner, who will be announced in mid-September.

The selected name will be painted onto the side of the Space Shuttle replica, and the winner will have his/her name and hometown incorporated onto a placard at the new attraction. Plus, the winner will receive a three-day trip for four to Space Center Houston, which includes a VIP tour of the facility, a behind-the-scenes experience at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, hotel accommodations, meals and travel compensation. The winner will also be invited to attend and participate in the grand opening ceremony in 2015.

“Our new addition will undoubtedly become Texas’ newest ‘must-see’ attraction and will provide a truly unique classroom to inspire students in engineering and science,” said Richard Allen, president of Space Center Houston. “It would only be fitting for a Texan to name this iconic piece of history.”

(Image provided by Space Center Houston)

FMI: www.nametheshuttle.com