Time-Lapse Video of Space Shuttle Endeavour On The Streets of L.A.

Above, space shuttle Endeavour being transported on Manchester Blvd. in Inglewood, California
to the California Science Center in Exposition Park in Los Angeles. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

At about 4:00 in the morning on October 13, 2012, I headed down to Inglewood, California to view the space shuttle Endeavour being transported to its permanent home at the California Science Center in Los Angeles's Exposition Park.

Naturally, I brought along my camera took many photographs of the shuttle, including some directly underneath a wing.

The Los Angeles Times posted on YouTube a time-lapse video of the shuttle's journey from a hangar at Los Angeles International Airport to Exposition Park.

For your viewing enjoyment, here's the video:

Places To Celebrate National Space Day

Above, the space shuttle Endeavour being transported to the California Science
Center through the streets of Inglewood, California in 2012. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It has been my contention over the years that the U.S. Space Program is the most worthwhile government program we have. So, if you are a fan of the Space Program like me, we're in luck!

The first Friday in May is National Space Day, where people can visit many venues celebrating the U.S. Space Program. One of them is the California Science Center in Exposition Park in Los Angeles where the space shuttle Endeavour is displayed.

Tripadvisor has a list of nine places in the U.S. where National Space Day celebrants can see actual artifacts from the Space Program.

They begin with:

You don’t have to hop in a spaceship to go intergalactic. Whether practicing your lunar landing on a flight simulator, gazing at a sky full of stars midday at the planetarium, or reliving the glory of NASA’s most important space explorations, you can reach outer space from every corner of the United States. In honor of National Space Day, here are 9 star attractions that promise out-of-this-world experiences.

To read more, go here. 

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. 

Estimated One Million Witnessed Shuttle's Move; Crime Down

Above, Endeavour early Saturday morning in Inglewood.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It has been estimated that about one million people witnessed the space shuttle Endeavour move through the streets of Inglewood and Los Angeles as it made it way from LAX to the California Science Center in Exposition Park.

Also, crime in the city was down during the time of the shuttle's move.

According to the Los Angeles Times:

But in recapping the LAPD's efforts to patrol the crowds, [L.A.P.D. Chief] Beck told the Police Commission on Tuesday that the spectators were perhaps the best he's ever seen. "I maybe have never been involved in policing a crowd that was so positive and so proud," he said. 

Crime rates for the city during the shuttle's weekend journey, he said, were the lowest in months.

To read the full article, and to see a fascinating time-lapse video of the shuttle's move, go here.

"Endeavour" Still Behind Schedule

Above, power lines over Manchester Blvd. in the process of being moved so the shuttle can pass through.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The shuttle Endeavour still hasn't arrived at the California Science Museum.

According to the Los Angeles Times (posted at 6:04 am):

The Space Shuttle Endeavour is still hours from reaching its destination of the California Science Center, with some estimates now placing the shuttle there well after sunrise. 

The pine trees along of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard proved to be a challenge for the space shuttle Endeavour, further slowing its already sluggish progress. 

Jeffrey Rudolph, president of the California Science Center declined to give a time frame for Endeavor's arrival at the facility.

This isn't surprising, since a lot of money is at stake in keeping the shuttle in good condition.

To read the full article, go here.

"Endeavour" Photos: 3rd Batch

This has been one long day.  I've been up since about 2:45 this morning.  Throughout the day, I've followed the progress of the shuttle Endeavour as it slowly made its way to the California Science Center in Exposition Park via live streaming video, courtesy of the California Science Center and CNN.

Here are some more pictures of the shuttle that I took early this morning:

The last photo (below) was taken with my cell phone.  I sent it to several people while I was there.

Space Shuttle "Endeavour" In Inglewood

Above, my first view of Endeavour on Manchester Blvd. in Inglewood.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

My alarm was set for 2:50 AM, but I woke up about seven minutes before.

I decided to make the trek down to Inglewood, California (about 25 miles away) to view the Space Shuttle Endeavour on Manchester Blvd. as it is being hauled to the California Science Center.

Above, Endeavour is still an impresive sight!  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It is scheduled to be at a viewing area at the Forum's parking lot at 8:00 this morning, but I heard one of the police in Inglewood say that it is two hours behind schedule.  Endeavour is supposed to arrive at the California Science Center tonight (good luck!).

Above, the crew section of Endeavour.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I got down to Inglewood and found that it was nowhere near the Forum.  I located it about 2-3 miles west on Manchester.  I found a parking space (surprisingly fast) in front of Inglewood High School.  Endeavour was about three short blocks west.

Above, the starboard wing.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After parking, I walked down Manchester and found that a lot of other people had the same idea.  There were several hundred people there, but they were all orderly and were enjoying seeing a spaceship on a city street.  Several news vans were also there covering the event.

Above, hundreds of thermal tiles under the starboard wing.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The shuttle was stopped in the street.  I saw it move only once during the time I was there.  On average, according to news reports, it is supposed to move at about two miles per hour.  It may have been stopped as crews were working to get some power lines out of the way.

Above, the tail section and engines.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I was able to get right up close to it.  I stood virtually under its starboard side wing tip.  The rocket engines on Endeavour are dummy ones.  The real ones were removed earlier.  It looks space-worthy yet.

Above, Endeavour drew a good crowd at 3:30 in the morning.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It is amazing seeing an object about the size of a Boeing 737 being towed through city streets for sixteen miles.  It is truly one of those "once in a lifetime" kind of events.

I'm glad I went!

Mission 26: The Big Endeavour

Photo: NASA

Source: California Science Center

I received a press release from the California Science Center. The date of space shuttle Endeavor's arrival in Los Angeles has been set (weather permitting):

Mission 26: The Big Endeavour

The countdown has begun for Mission 26: The Big Endeavour. The space shuttle's arrival, transportation and grand opening at the Samuel Oschin Space Shuttle Endeavour Display Pavilion.

Endeavour, which will be transported on top of NASA's Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA), is expected to arrive at LAX mid-day of September 20. The target date is flexible, pending weather conditions at Kennedy Space Center and along the flight path and in Los Angeles. When Endeavour arrives, it will be moved into a United Airlines hangar. The shuttle will stay at the hangar while final preparations for its transport and display are completed.

More information + Press release

I was present for Endeavor's first mission landing at Edwards Air Force Base.  I am looking forward to being present for its last.

Apollo-Soyuz Command Module

This notice was sent to me this evening:

Apollo-Soyuz Command Module

Although built to fly to the moon as Apollo 18, its mission was changed when funding was cut for the Apollo program. Also known as the Apollo-Soyuz Command Module, the capsule was flown by American astronauts Tom Stafford, Deke Slayton and Vance Brand to rendezvous with a Russian Soyuz spacecraft parked in orbit around the Earth. Instead of flying to the moon, its mission was to create a rescue system to serve both U.S. and Soviet astronauts.

You can read more information at http://goto.californiasciencecenter.org/apollo18.

Sounds interesting!

Shuttle Endeavour Awarded To California Science Center

Above, orbiter Endeavour as seen from the International Space Station.

In May 1992, I was one of thousands of spectators to witness the landing of space shuttle Endeavour at Edwards Air Force Base following its maiden flight on mission STS-49. Endeavour was the replacement shuttle for Challenger.

Presently, Endeavour is on its final mission into space (STS-134).

I received this message from the California Science Center today:

Space Shuttle Endeavour awarded to the Science Center

On April 12, NASA Administrator Charles Bolden made an exciting announcement that the California Science Center will be awarded the Space Shuttle Orbiter Endeavour. The decision was the result of a three-year-long national competition, with over 20 prestigious organizations from across the U.S. vying to be the recipient of one of three flown orbiters. It is an amazing honor to be selected as the steward of the Endeavour and a testament to the California Science Center's reputation as a national leader in science learning and education. The other two orbiters have been awarded to the Smithsonian Institution and the Kennedy Space Center.

Plans are underway to bring the Endeavour to Los Angeles and build a new Air and Space Center, which has always been a major component of the California Science Center's 25-year Master Plan. With the Endeavour as its central experience, the new Air and Space Center will be one of the most significant air and space education facilities in the world. To learn more about this momentous project and how you can help the California Science Center inspire future generations of explorers and innovators go to www.BringEndeavourHome.org.