Posted on 09/22/2012 2:18:21 PM PDT by EveningStar
LOS ANGELES — Space shuttle Endeavour, now a permanent resident of the state of California, has traded its winged chariot for a set of custom wheels.
Early on Saturday (Sept. 22), the shuttle was hoisted by cranes off the modified Boeing 747 jumbo jet that flew it to a landing at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) the day before.
(Excerpt) Read more at space.com ...
The bow of the ship turned out to be the best vantage point as Endeavor flew over from stern to bow and turned left towards the USS Iowa.
This space shuttle should have been placed at WPAFB or Houston. Flying the shuttle around California was a political photo op and an incredible waste of money. They could have disassemble the shuttle and trucked it over to LA. These kinds of decisions explain why our country is quickly failing and how our deficit is over 16 trillion.
Who took that picture???? Great!!!
“”There were a lot of kids watching where I was. Who knows how many of them will be inspired to seek a career in space exploration. “”
They sure won’t be able to do it in this country when obozo gets through with his agenda.
Endeavour offload at LAX
All of the pics are beautiful, yet sad to see just one more American dream that Obama has killed make it to its grave.
*Real* crocodile tears. Scary stuff indeed. I hope this celebration of the Endeavour is spared these people. Since this in Cali...I have my doubts. :)
I remember watching the Shuttle program in development throughout college when I was in Mech Eng school. Dad had a subscription to Aviation Week and Popular Science ran great articles. I vividly remember the excitement of the atmospheric drop tests in 1977 and the goosebumps I had on the STS-1 launch in 1978.
Americans line the hills in Southern California, trying to get closer, as they welcome Endeavour home.
Real low.
Notice the gear is up.
The Space Shuttle Endeavour above the Hard Rock Cafe at Universal City Walk
Endeavour cockpit
I don’t disagree with the other places that were worthy of a shuttle. Many thought Atlantis was going to WPAFB.
Not trying to be confrontational, but it would have been very expensive to take the shuttle apart. Seemed logical to transport it the way we always have. As for the cost of the fly around California....it was in my opinion, worth it. if it inspires some kid somewhere to go into the sciences or space industry, then it was well worth it. I know i was inspired by the moon landing.
by the way, NASA’s budget is less that 1 percent of the national budget. The data and knowledge that we are getting from the Hubble and the ISS is priceless IMHO.
I’ve been what seems like a year long crying jag, watching the shuttles being torn apart and sent off to museums....not to mention, the best launch team with a wealth of knowledge being dissassembled as well.
Wow!!
No, Houston should have received the Enterprise which went to NY, of all places.
It might be a surprise to you, but the Shuttles were born in California, designed by America's top scientist and aerospace engineers in CA and assembled and tested in CA. If any state deserved one of these spacecraft, it would be California. This isn't even debatable.
BTW, the many millions of Californians who went out of their way just to see the Endeavour's final tour, would very much disagree with you regarding it being a waste of money. Considering California's role in the Space Shuttle program, the CA tour was most appropriate.
Endeavour is back home.
Is that the first shuttle to fly piggy back to California? I know a lot of them flew out of here.
Spectacular! Thanks to the builders and pilots of such a wonderment and I pray that one day we can light this fire one more time, and our grandchildren witness this great nation at its best.
[apologies to Commander Christopher Ferguson ]
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