9 Years Ago: Shuttle Endeavor Towed In the Streets of L.A.

Above, Space Shuttle Endeavor on Manchester Blvd. in Inglewood, California. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

While attention is on the western part of Texas today as Star Trek actor William Shatner is about to be launched into space, a space milestone of sorts took place on this date nine years ago.

It was nine years ago today that the space shuttle Endeavor was towed through the streets of Inglewood and Los Angeles to its permanent home at Exposition Park in Los Angeles.

Above, a view of Endeavor's tail, engines and wing. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I got up around 2:45 am that morning and went to Inglewood to view the shuttle as it was being towed down Manchester Blvd. A sizable crowd was already on hand when I arrived.

This was the second time I saw the shuttle Endeavor in person. I witnessed its landing at Edwards Air Force Base following its maiden flight into space in May 1992

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: