he work to stand up two rockets for the launchpad-like exhibit of NASA's retired space shuttle Endeavour has been capped — literally and figuratively — with the addition of two nose cones.
As the California Science Center prepares to take Endeavour off of public display for the next few years, the first major components for the orbiter's vertical exhibit are now complete at the construction site for the new Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center in Los Angeles. Just one month after crane operators hoisted into place the large segments for the two solid rocket boosters (SRBs), they were back in motion this week topping off the towering rockets with the forward assemblies.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 51790 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
With the end of 2023 comes the end of an endeavor — or rather Endeavour — as the retired NASA space shuttle goes off public view for the next few years.
The last visitors to see Endeavour on exhibit will be those who leave the science center when it closes on Sunday (Dec. 31) at 5:00 p.m. PST.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 51790 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
The science center announced on Tuesday (Jan. 2) that is targeting Wednesday, Jan. 10 to begin the tank's move. The largest component of the space shuttle stack, the 154-foot-long (47-meter) orange tank will be loaded onto a self-propelled modular transporter for its relatively short trip from beside the California Science Center to the work site for the new air and space center.
The 65,000-pound (29,500-kilogram) tank will then be hoisted by crane above the partially erected walls of the museum and then lowered between the exhibit's two solid rocket boosters, which were similarly installed in December. Unlike the boosters, though, the tank's lift will be conducted overnight, with first motion slated for sometime after 10 p.m. PST on Jan. 11 (12 a.m. EST or 0500 GMT Jan. 12), pending acceptable weather conditions and other safety concerns.
SpaceAngel Member
Posts: 461 From: Maryland Registered: May 2010
posted 01-08-2024 09:18 AM
Looking at the external tank, will a strut be added it to the bi-pod area, also where the orbiter's nose landing gear is located?
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 51790 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
NASA's last-remaining, built-for-flight space shuttle external tank finally took to the sky, albeit for only two brief hops above Los Angeles.
In what was originally planned as an overnight move but extended into a two-day process due to wind concerns and added caution, External Tank-94 (ET-94) was taken aloft by two large cranes and lowered in front of and then between two solid rocket boosters such that together with the soon-to-follow orbiter Endeavour, the stack will form the world's only fully-authentic, upright space shuttle.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 51790 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 01-19-2024 05:22 PM
Endeavour (under shrink wrap) has been rolled out of its pavilion of the past 12 years in preparation for its move and lift into the new Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center later this month.
The orbiter will begin its short but momentous journey on Jan. 26, with work to stack and hard mate it to its external tank and solid rocket boosters expected to be completed by Jan. 29.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 51790 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 01-26-2024 01:15 PM
From the California Science Center (via X):
Final preparations are underway to install Endeavour no earlier than Jan. 29. Endeavour's lift will be livestreamed. More details to come.
Due to safety precautions and space constraints, there will be no public viewing on the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center construction site.
MOL Member
Posts: 189 From: Los Angeles, CA Registered: Oct 2004
posted 01-27-2024 10:12 AM
Here are some views of Endeavour's final horizontal move from Friday morning! It will be hoisted next week using the original 1970's Rockwell built yellow sling you see in the first photo here.
MOL Member
Posts: 189 From: Los Angeles, CA Registered: Oct 2004
posted 01-27-2024 03:31 PM
The sling getting into position...
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 51790 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 01-29-2024 09:45 PM
California Science Center live video
Tune in tonight, Jan. 29, as we go live for Endeavour's lift and installation into the future Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center. Space shuttle lift to begin no earlier than 10:00 p.m. PST. Schedule subject to change.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 51790 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
A complete space shuttle is standing upright for the first time in more than a decade.
Overnight Monday into the early hours of Tuesday (Jan. 29-30), two large cranes carefully lifted NASA's retired winged orbiter Endeavour off a Los Angeles side street into the air and then lowered it onto an already-standing external tank with twin solid rocket boosters.
SpaceAngel Member
Posts: 461 From: Maryland Registered: May 2010
posted 01-30-2024 11:59 AM
What will become of the hangar that temporarily housed Endeavour at the California Science Center?
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 51790 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 01-30-2024 12:19 PM
According to Dennis Jenkins, the Samuel Oschin Display Pavilion will host a new exhibit that is not aerospace related.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 51790 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 01-31-2024 05:21 PM
Courtesy Dennis Jenkins, a view of the stack after the sling was removed and the crane detached.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 51790 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 01-31-2024 09:39 PM
From the California Science Center (via X):
Endeavour points to stars once more.
The Science Center has completed the world's only authentic, ready-to-launch space shuttle system display. Endeavour's installation in the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center is the grand finale of the unprecedented Go for Stack process.
posted 11-30-2023 10:12 AM
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