By Ben Fractenberg
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MIDTOWN WEST — A proposal to bring a space shuttle to the Intrepid Air and Space museum got a boost on Thursday as the state Senate unanimously passed a resolution endorsing the move.
“I could not be more pleased that the Senate has shown its commitment to bringing a Space Shuttle to New York,” said State Sen. Thomas Duane, whose West Side district includes the museum docked at Pier 86, in a statement.
“I have been amazed at the outpouring of public support for the Intrepid Museum’s bid, and I have expressed to my colleagues in the Senate how important winning this competition would be for New York City and New York State.”
Twenty museums are vying for the chance to host one of NASA’s decommissioned Discovery, Endeavor and Atlantis shuttles, which will be retired in early 2011.
The Intrepid Museum is trying to raise the approximately $40 million dollars it will cost to house the shuttle in a glass enclosure.
The shuttle is will bring in upwards of $7.5 million in tax revenue for the city, according to the museum.
The museum started an online petition to help gather support for its campaign.
NASA is expected to announce the winners of the competition in early July.