Local residents may not be that attached to the Polaris missile in Lawrence’s Centennial Park, but if the Kansas Cosmosphere wants the missile, it suddenly could become a much more important part of the city’s landscape.

City commissioners are scheduled to officially accept a letter tonight from the Cosmosphere seeking to obtain the missile for a new rocket and aircraft park in Hutchinson. Really? Who knew the Lawrence rocket was an important artifact that someone else would want?

At least initially, city officials seemed cool to the idea of giving up the submarine-launched rocket that was donated by the Lawrence Navy League in 1964 as a tribute to members of the U.S. military who served during the Cold War. In fact, City Manager David Corliss said the city probably would do some research on the missile to make sure its story is being adequately told.

Local residents may owe the Cosmosphere a debt of thanks for raising the city’s awareness of the missile and the reason for its donation. It’s not exactly Lawrence’s most prominent landmark, but it could have an important story to tell.