NASA, Texas A&M sign agreement to move Space Shuttle Motion Simulator

HOUSTON, 19 Dec. 2011. Executives from NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston, Texas, and Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, are expected to sign an agreement today that marks the beginning of the Shuttle Motion Simulator’s move to College Station. The NASA-Texas A&M partnership enables the college to house and showcase the primary space shuttle launch and landing trainer, considered unique space shuttle training artifacts.

The Shuttle Motion Simulator provided a full-motion simulation of shuttle launches and landings for each crew that flew on the shuttle. It began operations at JSC in 1977 and was used in training for all 135 space shuttle missions.

The JSC facility that housed the shuttle simulators will continue to be used for International Space Station training.

This partnership will help ensure that this unique historical artifact and the space shuttle training technology it represents is preserved and used to inspire future engineers. JSC officials welcome opportunities for partnerships that find areas of common interest of benefit to both parties.