Space shuttle Atlantis is one of three retiring space shuttles that could soon make its home at the Museum of Flight in Seattle. Aerospace enthusiasts rallied support at the Space Needle today, unfurling a huge shuttle flag as part of a pitch for one of the shuttles.

“This is a beacon of education and history,” said Bonnie Dunbar, a retired astronaut with the museum. “This region has a history in aerospace going not only back to early airplanes, but also back to Apollo.”

VIDEO BACKSTORY: New View From Atop Needle

The Discovery, Atlantis and Endeavour are soon to be grounded for good after a final Endeavour flight next February. The Smithsonian already has Enterprise, which did not fly in space, but Discovery has been promised to the Smithsonian, so the institution will probably give up Enterprise to make room.

Seattle has stiff competition, as 19 other sites around the country are also working to earn one of the three remaining shuttles, which are arguably the most prized aerospace artifacts on the planet.

Just asking for one of the shuttles isn't good enough, though; to even be considered, a site needs to have to have a specialized building ready to house it. Such a structure is already being built at the Museum of Flight. They broke ground on the $12 million building last June.

The site also needs an adequate runway – one which is strong enough to support a 747 touching down with a shuttle on its back.

NASA is also looking for a site near a major population center and a strong education program.

“We need to inspire our current engineers, our next generation of engineers, to keep America in space and to continue to explore,” Dunbar said.

The shuttle could also serve as a boon to Seattle’s economy. Experts calculate that a shuttle could deliver up to 1 million extra visitors per year and $40 million a year to the state that lands it. Representatives from eight Washington tourist, convention, and visitor agencies were on hand when the flag was raised.

“Certainly what happens in space is a big driver for tourism, so we look at it as we’ve got to do it,” said Tom Norwalk, CEO of Seattle’s Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Contact Reporter Alison Grande at agrande@kirotv.com.