It's been a long time since it was announced that America's space shuttles were to be discontinued and that they were headed for the best home that museum curators could offer them.

Now, it is just a week before final decisions are made, and the resting places of Atlantics, Endeavour and ultimately Enterprise are determined. Discovery is already pencilled in for the Smithsonian, following an 'autopsy'.

The competition has got quite fierce and resembles a political campaign, not just with the grand visions and keen lobbying but even with buttons in a style which are more typical of a Democrat-Repulican set-to.

The Adler Planetarium's shuttle vision

Some of the displays could be truly spectacular however. For example The Adler Planetarium in Chicago, Illinois has proposed a glass pavilion to display a suspended space shuttle orbiter, which should result in some slack jaws if given the go ahead.

From the point of view of collectibles, it is a reminder of how excited many people are by shuttle memorabilia, which often does especially well against its estimates at space auctions.

A range of stunning displays of shuttles across America including ones apparently in flight would do nothing to dampen that.