Astronomy Picture of the Day -- Shuttle Enterprise Over New York

NASA ^ | May 09, 2012 | (see photo credit)

[SunkenCiv]

Explanation: What's that in the background? Two famous New York City icons stand tall in the above photo taken last week. On the left looms the Statue of Liberty, a universal symbol of freedom, while on the right rises the Empire State Building, now the second largest building in the city. What's unique about this once-in-a-lifetime photograph, though, is the third icon that appears to Lady Liberty's left. High in the air and far in the background flies the space shuttle Enterprise -- perched atop a 747 jet -- on the way to its new home. New Yorkers and visitors to the Big Apple can visit the test space shuttle at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum on the West Side of Manhattan starting July 19.

[Cyber Liberty]

So, NYC gets the one shuttle that never went to space? Why? Wasn’t it at Smithsonian Annex near DC?

[SunkenCiv]

NY helps elect the President, DC does not.

[Cyber Liberty]

Oh, good point. And true.

[deks]

Yes, the Enterprise was at the museum in Chantilly, Virginia. The Discovery shuttle will go there now. This article at Space.com tells about it...

“Space shuttle Discovery, NASA’s oldest remaining orbiter and the world’s most flown spacecraft, will be displayed by the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum at its Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center near Dulles International Airport.”

http://www.space.com/11367-nasa-space-shuttles-museums-winners.html