Official announcements have confirmed that NASA is inviting universities, museums and other such organizations to step in, examine and request space program artefacts. All representatives of eligible institutions of "education or preservation" can choose to pick a piece.

The items that are being distributed include models of spaceship prototypes, spacesuits, and other similar offerings that represent "significant human space flight technologies, processes and accomplishments from NASA's past and present space exploration programs".

In partnership with the General Services Administration, NASA had only last year provided a first-of-its-type online electronic pre-screening. Up for offering to eligible and recognizable museums, institutions and organizations are some 2.500 potential artefacts from NASA space programs that include "space shuttle, Hubble Space Telescope, Apollo, Mercury, and Gemini".

Organizations interested in picking up the offering will be thoroughly screened via an online registration process or through their respective state agencies.

Offers from American academic institutions, federal agencies or municipalities will be accepted by the agency until February 19.