Published Friday, July 30, 2010 12:02 AM

Ags competing for space shuttle

By MATTHEW WATKINS
matthew.watkins@theeagle.com

A group hoping to bring a retired space shuttle to Texas A&M has updated its proposal to NASA this week as community support for the idea broadens.

The initial five-page proposal was described by its author as "an emotional plea," but local leaders have been expanding it with more details. The new proposal submitted Tuesday describes how A&M is a space grant university, emphasizes the school's strength in science, technology, engineering and mathematics education and touts Bryan-College Station's central location between Texas' largest cities.

An architecture firm has even drawn renderings of a museum that could be built to house the shuttle near the George Bush Presidential Library.

Former President George H.W. Bush, U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards and other local leaders have also signed onto the project. A group will soon meet with Texas A&M President R. Bowen Loftin to ask for his support. In all, about 3,000 letters have been sent to NASA asking the shuttle to be sent to Aggieland.

Groups in about 20 cities have bid for one of the three shuttles. NASA was expected to make a decision by the end of the month, but officials said that may be delayed as pending federal legislation has made the shuttles' retirement date unclear.

"We are kinda the underdog, but we have a really fabulous location," said Deborah Cowman, executive director of the Brazos Valley Museum of Natural History.

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