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Author
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Topic: MPTA-98 'Boattail' at Space & Rocket Center
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Atlantis
Member Posts: 111
From: Cullman, AL
Registered: Dec 2007
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posted 06-25-2012 11:21 PM
   
The space shuttle Main Propulsion Test Article (MPTA-98) has been cleaned up and is on display behind Pathfinder at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Ala. |
Jay Chladek
Member Posts: 2272
From: Bellevue, NE, USA
Registered: Aug 2007
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posted 06-26-2012 06:53 AM
I'm glad to see it got cleaned up and moved. Last time I saw MPTA-98 was a few days after the STS-135 launch as Scott Phillips gave me an invitation to visit him at Marshall and I took him up on it. The boattail was sitting in storage next to the J-2 engine test stand.I would love to see this thing go to a museum somewhere, although I don't know how exactly one would display just a boat tail (maybe stick three mocked up SSMEs in it perhaps). As I recall, at one time MPTA-98 was temporarily mounted to a full size Shuttle-C HLLV mockup when Rockwell was making a pitch to NASA to build it. I'll bet that was an impressive sight. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 51351
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 06-26-2012 07:21 AM
See this thread for photos of MPTA-98 mounted to the Shuttle-C mockup at Marshall. The 'boattail' is the first of several new shuttle related large artifacts that will be going on display around the Pathfinder plaza at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. Soon to join it will be the T-38 that is currently at Aviation Challenge and a Shuttle Training Aircraft (STA). |
AirmanPika
Member Posts: 24
From: Aurora, CO
Registered: Jul 2010
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posted 11-11-2023 03:52 PM
Why is it just sitting there? MPTA-098?For reference this is at the Space and Rocket Center at Huntsville sitting behind the Space Camp complex.  
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 51351
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 11-11-2023 05:17 PM
After being moved from Marshall Space Flight Center to the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in 2012, the boattail received a very light restoration (basically just a cleaning) and was placed in Shuttle Park at the rear of the Pathfinder stack. When the restoration of Pathfinder began, the boattail was moved off to the side where you see it now.When Pathfinder is reassembled and the work on the stack is complete, the boattail is expected to be put back on display in Shuttle Park for visitors to see. |
AirmanPika
Member Posts: 24
From: Aurora, CO
Registered: Jul 2010
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posted 11-11-2023 05:45 PM
Thank you. |
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