Request for information on space shuttle orbiter and space shuttle main engine placement http://prod.nais.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/eps/synopsis.cgi?acqid=133299 Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum: Phase Two The Flight Continues http://www.nasm.si.edu/getinvolved/giving/phasetwo/ Shuttle and Station Video Podcasts http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/podcasting/shuttle_station_index.html Buran � the Soviet 'space shuttle' http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7738489.stm How Space Shuttles work http://www.howstuffworks.com/space-shuttle.htm Paper Toys: Space Shuttle http://www.papertoys.com/shuttle.htm As the 2010 retirement of the space shuttles Discovery, Atlantis, and Endeavor draws near, NASA this week released proposed post retirement plans for several of the space shuttles. The initial release was designed to gauge interest from potential buyers who would be willing and able to put the retired ships on display. Intended for schools, science museums, and other organizations that might be interested in showcasing one of the three remaining shuttles, the proposal contains what would be a prohibitive price for most organizations. NASA estimates that it will cost around $42 million dollars to get the shuttle ready for it's final destination. It is important to note that the $42 million will only get the shuttle to the closest major airport, shipping fees beyond that will cost extra, most likely a lot extra, as the space shuttle "will not be disassembled for transportation or storage." One of the shuttles appears destined for the Smithsonian's Air and Space Museum, but the other two are up for grabs. If $42 million is too much for some, NASA is also offering some of the main shuttle engines for the bargain prices of $400,000 and $800,000, and no, this doesn't include shipping. The first link will lead visitors to a piece from Scientific American on the proposal to sell the retiring shuttles. The second link leads to the actual NASA proposal should you, or someone you know, be interested. The third link leads to the Smithsonian's Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center and a discussion of its new wing which is designed to collect and preserve the United States' aviation and space history. The fourth link leads to an interesting collection of NASA podcasts about the space shuttles and space station. The fifth link leads to an intriguing article from BBC on the lesser-known Soviet space shuttle. The sixth link leads visitors to an informative set of articles on how the space shuttles actually work. Last, for those who can't afford the $42 million or just don't have the space, this link will take them to a printable space shuttle paper toy that they can construct for the cost of a piece of paper and some printer ink.