Astronomy Picture of the Day -- A Space Shuttle on the Streets of Los Angeles

NASA ^ | October 22, 2012 | (see photo credit)

[SunkenCiv]

Explanation: Was that the space shuttle that just went by? Garnering attention that could make even a movie star blush, thousands of people watched in awe as a quintessential icon of the space age was towed through the streets of Los Angeles. After landing at LAX airport late last month, the shuttle Endeavour was carefully loaded onto rolling trailers and maneuvered down roads and across bridges to the California Science Center, 20 kilometers away. To many, there was a majesty to the voyage that was beyond description, inspiring people to line the LA streets and wait at windows and balconies to witness and photograph this once-in-a-lifetime event. Narrowly avoiding some buildings and trees, the retired shuttle made it safely to its new home and will soon be ready for permanent display. Although the journey took place over three days, it has been shortened in the above artistic time-lapse video to about three minutes.

[SunkenCiv]

[Credit & Copyright: Bryan Chan, Los Angeles Times; Music: Keeper of the Wind (Eleni Hassabis, Firstcom)]

[SunkenCiv]

here's an earlier topic. Somehow I managed to forget to do yesterday's until this morning. [blush]

• Time-lapse video: Space shuttle Endeavour's trek through L.A. (Amazing!)

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[Gaffer]

I’ve got pretty much mixed feelings about seeing this.

The Shuttle (the program) never lived up to its ambitious opening billing that it would launch dozens of flights per year, two-three day turnarounds, at rock bottom prices. Quite the contrary, it became a very expensive endeavor, and was saddled with numerous setbacks (two lost Shuttles), one needless political pandering trip (Senator John Glenn)and a host of other NASA spillover ‘science’ that amounted to nothing more than more global warming hysteria.

In this regard, I guess it’s fitting that the icon of this progam is now nestled in the heart of bloated government, needless expense, largess, and outright beligerance toward the laws of this country (immigration).

It should have gone to Houston.

[Joe Boucher]

Waaaay cool SunkenCiv,
Thanks

[driftdiver]

Thats really sad. How quickly they dismantled the shuttle program and now this great machine is reduced to this.

[JoeProBono]

[hadaclueonce]

In my mind I get red flags when I see something that is wrong. I just feel it. I got one of those red flags when I saw the tour that this shuttle was on. I am not sure if it was the retirement or the death parade.

[TheOldLady]

That shuttle belongs in Houston, which isn’t commie enough for O’Bozo, which is why it’s residing in leftist Collifornicata.

It’s a travesty.