“Does LASFS want to buy a shuttle orbiter?” asks David Klaus. “Of course, it won’t quite fit into Freehafer Hall.”

NASA plans to retire three space shuttles in 2010. One is heading to the Smithsonian. The others are up for grabs, though don’t miss the fine print:

Beware: NASA estimates it will cost about $42 million to get each shuttle ready and get it where it needs to go, and the final tab could end up much more. The estimate includes $6 million to ferry the spaceship atop a modified jumbo jet to the closest major airport.