Endeavour Successfully Completes Its Los Angeles-Area Flyovers

Last week, we talked about the space shuttle Endeavour making its farewell flight around California as it headed to LAX for landing. This space shuttle was flown around several highly visited areas in the Los Angeles basin perched atop a modified Boeing 747 aircraft. The Endeavour will ultimately end up living the remainder of its days in Los Angeles at the California Science Center.

The last 12 miles of Endeavour's journey will be the slowest of them all. The space shuttle will be transferred across surface streets in the city of Los Angeles at speeds of around two mph or under. Previously, we talked about a number of old trees that had to be cut down to make room for the space shuttle to drive down Los Angeles streets.

The space shuttle remains at the airport until its final journey begins on October 12. For now, the space shuttle resides in a hangar at the airport and will be rolled out in mid-October by four computer-controlled transport vehicles. The massive size of the space shuttle measuring 78-feet wide and 58-feet tall means special concessions had to be made by the city to remove obstacles all along the path.

Other than having to remove trees, streetlights and power lines also had to be moved. Trees and other removed obstacles will be replaced once the space shuttle reaches its final destination. Endeavour will arrive at the California Science Center on October 13. At that time, the museum will spend about two weeks touching up the orbiter and the shuttle will go on display on October 30. The final exhibit will feature the space shuttle in a vertical position accompanied by its massive fuel tank and rocket boosters. The final exhibit isn't expected to be completed for about five years.

[via MSNBC]