Shuttle Endeavour To Be Joined By Last External Fuel Tank

Above, the space shuttle Endeavour in Inglewood, California in 2012. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back in 2012, I joined throngs of people on the streets of Inglewood, California to view the transporting of space shuttle Endeavour during the early morning hours as it made its way to the California Science Center in Exposition Park in Los Angeles.

The space shuttle has been a big draw for visitors and soon it will be joined by the last remaining external fuel tank.

The Los Angeles Times reported:

When the space shuttle Endeavour crawled through the streets of Los Angeles to the California Science Center in 2012, it was missing something: the giant external fuel tank on which it rode piggyback into space. 

There was a good reason. The external tanks, which attached to shuttles' bellies, detached and burned up in the atmosphere shortly after liftoff. Museum officials figured they'd have to settle for a fake in their exhibit. Then, last year, NASA agreed to donate the last one in existence. 

But the tank was in New Orleans and was about as tall as a 15-story building. Getting it to L.A. wouldn't be easy.

It will be interesting to see the transport of the tank as it goes through the streets as the space shuttle did. The operation to transport the shuttle was tricky enough, but the external tank is bigger and a lot more fragile. It is expected to hit the streets on May 21.

To read more, go here.