HOUSTON — On Thursday, Sen. Ted Cruz and Sen. John Cornyn introduced legislation to move the Space Shuttle Discovery from Virginia to a nonprofit near the Johnson Space Center in Houston.

“Houston played a critical role throughout the life of the space shuttle program, but it is clear political favors trumped common sense and fairness when the Obama administration blocked the Space City from receiving the recognition it deserves,” said Cornyn. “I am proud to lead the effort to finally bring Discovery home to Houston, where future generations of Texans and Americans can come to learn about the city’s integral role in our nation’s space shuttle program.”

The Bring the Space Shuttle Home Act would authorize the relocation of the shuttle from Virginia to Houston.

“Home to the Johnson Space Center and its famed Mission Control, Houston has an unparalleled reputation and history in the exploration of the new frontier,” said Cruz. “Bringing the Discovery to its final home will offer hundreds of thousands of visitors each year the opportunity to engage with a living piece of NASA’s history and understand why Houston is known worldwide as ‘Space City.’”

A press release confirmed that the federal government still possesses the Space Shuttle Discovery.

Four NASA space shuttles, Discovery, Atlantis, Endeavour and Enterprise, were retired in 2010. In 2011, despite initial plans that included a shuttle for Houston, the final destinations for the space shuttles were: Discovery (Smithsonian), Atlantis (Kennedy Space Center), Endeavour (California Science Center) and Enterprise (Intrepid Museum).