posted 09-19-2012 08:05 AM
It seems more like one of those funeral processions when they drive someone's remains past their home, for example, rather than a celebration.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42986 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 09-19-2012 08:15 AM
The attitude here at Kennedy was anything but morose or somber; there seemed to be a real excitement at seeing it take to the air...
schnappsicle Member
Posts: 396 From: Houston, TX, USA Registered: Jan 2012
posted 09-19-2012 09:00 AM
32 years ago, the Enterprise stopped at Ellington in Houston for an overnight visit. I woke up early that Saturday to drive the 3 miles to the base to see the shuttle. By the time I got there, it had already left. While I was waiting at the light to cross the highway, a police officer turned his lights on and gave me a ticket for an expired inspection sticker.
While I never liked getting tickets, I regret that I never saw any of the shuttles that passed through on their way from one coast to the other. I'm missing the landing because of work, but 6 hours from now I will be at the field taking a ton of pictures. I wish I could be there for takeoff, but I have a feeling that work will interfere with those plans too.
posted 09-19-2012 07:14 PM
I have no doubt that everyone who sees her will love it but it is a sad day for the nation. What might have been....
OV-105 Member
Posts: 816 From: Ridgecrest, CA Registered: Sep 2000
posted 09-19-2012 07:19 PM
Any word on what time 905/Endeavour will be at Edwards Thursday?
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42986 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 09-20-2012 12:10 AM
According to NASA, arrival at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center on Edwards Air Force Base is scheduled for approximately noon PDT.
I'll be at Dryden tomorrow, covering the landing for collectSPACE and SPACE.com.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42986 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
For the final time in history, a space shuttle is now being ferried across the United States mounted on top of a NASA jumbo jet. "It's a sight to see," said former astronaut Mark Kelly, about watching Endeavour, the shuttle he was last to command, soar atop a Boeing 747. "It's an amazing feat to stick something that heavy, on top of another airplane and fly it through the air."
collectSPACE is photo documenting Endeavour during its cross-country tour as it is delivered to Los Angeles for its permanent display at the California Science Center.
gliderpilotuk Member
Posts: 3398 From: London, UK Registered: Feb 2002
posted 09-20-2012 08:31 AM
That's a Wayne's World-moment photo - on the threshold with the combo going over the top of you at 100ft!
bwhite1976 Member
Posts: 281 From: Belleville, IL Registered: Jun 2011
posted 09-20-2012 08:39 AM
Pictures posted above are amazing. I especially like the picture with the KSC visitor center in the background.
David C Member
Posts: 1014 From: Lausanne Registered: Apr 2012
posted 09-20-2012 08:07 PM
I can't believe that the LAX "Flight Path" museum at the touchdown end of 25L is closed tomorrow. There goes my cunning plan. The allocated public areas are down the rollout end of the runway for some reason.
Beginning to think I'll just sit in Pasadena and watch the JPL flyby.
Anyone got a better idea?
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42986 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 09-20-2012 11:06 PM
The Flight Path Museum is one of two press sites for the LAX arrival (the other is at the United Airlines hangar, where I will be).
The California Science Center received over 900 credentialing requests and could only badge 300 members of the media due to the constraints presented at both viewing sites.
As noted earlier in this thread, parts of Imperial Avenue are being closed to allow public viewing. The Proud Bird Restaurant also offered viewing (and a brunch) but sold out (and you must have reservations to even park there).
Spacepsycho Member
Posts: 818 From: Huntington Beach, Calif. Registered: Aug 2004
posted 09-21-2012 11:41 AM
So I'm watching TV coverage of the Endeavor flying around Calif, judging by the people being interviewed, I must be the only one who's sad at today's events.
I stood on the dirt edge of Edwards main runway for every Enterprise drop testing flight, I watched 10-15 shuttle landings at Edwards, I've been able to walk under the shuttle after it's processing at Edwards and for me, this is a very sad day.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42986 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 09-21-2012 11:50 AM
I am currently sitting the United Airlines hangar that will serve as Endeavour's temporary home for the few weeks it is at Los Angeles International Airport.
The mood here is celebratory.
Yes, Endeavour could have, and probably should have gone on to fly more flights, but the orbiter served the nation well and deserves to be celebrated in its retirement. The space shuttle program entered history when it ended more than a year ago.
Aztecdoug Member
Posts: 1405 From: Huntington Beach Registered: Feb 2000
posted 09-21-2012 12:15 PM
Dang, I used to work a half of a block from the UAL hanger at FTL, now FedEx on World Way Way West... looking at the flight plans released by CBS 2 it may fly close enough to my work for a look, and it is flying over my house enroute to Boeing in Huntington Beach, but alas, I am working. In any event, I will see it after it is put to rest at CSC.
One of my co-workers in Houston got a nice shot of it flying over our office there in Houston.
Aztecdoug Member
Posts: 1405 From: Huntington Beach Registered: Feb 2000
posted 09-21-2012 03:21 PM
Well, we did see a little blip way off yonder... had to be at least 10 miles away from us at best down near the old Tustin MCAS. I heard they did a low 200' flyby of LAX during the run around LA. People on the 210 Freeway up near JPL were pulling over and getting out lawn chairs for their look see according to local traffic radio. Glad to see there is interest in our US History.
GoesTo11 Member
Posts: 1309 From: Denver, CO Registered: Jun 2004
posted 09-21-2012 03:35 PM
My sister in Sacramento just sent me pics and a video she took. I knew there was going to be a circuit of the Bay Area, but I didn't know they were making a pass over the state capitol.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42986 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
The last-ever space shuttle to take flight has made its final landing.
Space shuttle Endeavour, mounted atop NASA's Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA), a modified Boeing 747 jumbo jet, touched down at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in California Friday (Sept. 21) after a three day, cross-country trip from Florida.
The iconic black and white spacecraft, riding piggyback on the blue and white NASA aircraft, landed on the southern most runway at LAX at 12:51 p.m. PDT (3:51 p.m. EDT; 1951 GMT). The early afternoon arrival marked the end of not only Endeavour's airborne journey, but the final ferry flight of the space shuttle program era.
posted 09-21-2012 11:39 PM
So, we've had the epic "money" shots of Discovery over the National Mall in DC, Enterprise over the tip of Manhattan and the new WTC...what's next? Endeavour over the Golden Gate Bridge?
We've seen Endeavour passing over the "Hollywood" sign, but that would be a tough shot to do justice to from a perspective standpoint, given that the sign isn't actually very big.
Can't wait for the JSC Flickr page for this flight.
mikepf Member
Posts: 441 From: San Jose, California, USA Registered: Mar 2002
posted 09-22-2012 12:27 AM
I was a bit disappointed with the flyover at Moffett Field / NASA Ames. The shuttle flew in behind old Hangar 1. So it was already on the way out before it became visible to all of us in the designated viewing area on the runway. It was over almost as soon as we were able to see it.
But still, it was a thrill to be able to see what little I was able to. I did get to meet Karol Bobko and Steve Robinson.
Ironically, my wife, who is NOT a space fan, had a fantastic view from her office a couple of miles away. Her company had a viewing party on the roof and it flew right over them.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42986 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 09-22-2012 06:59 PM
quote:Originally posted by GoesTo11: Can't wait for the JSC Flickr page for this flight.
Aerial shots from the California flyover tour are here. Included are the State Capitol in Sacramento, Lake Merritt in Oakland, the Golden Gate Bridge, Bay Bridge, Santa Monica Pier, LA Coliseum, the Getty Museum, Hollywood sign, Disneyland, Angels Stadium, and the California coastline.
GoesTo11 Member
Posts: 1309 From: Denver, CO Registered: Jun 2004
posted 09-23-2012 12:11 AM
Was really hoping there'd be a shot over the Santa Monica Pier. YES
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42986 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 09-23-2012 12:05 PM
Some NASA videos from the ferry flight... first leg (Florida to Houston with Stennis and Michoud flyovers):
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42986 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 09-23-2012 12:07 PM
Second and third leg (Ellington to Dryden):
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42986 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 09-23-2012 12:11 PM
Fourth and final leg (Dryden to Los Angeles International Airport):
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42986 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 09-23-2012 12:15 PM
Here's the view I had for the arrival at the airport from outside the United Airlines hangar (NASA video):
My sister Stacy, and her friend Merrill Barr, went to Griffith Park to photograph the flyover of the observatory and Hollywood sign for collectSPACE. Courtesy Merrill, here is a video of the ferry flight passing over both:
APG85 Member
Posts: 306 From: Registered: Jan 2008
posted 09-23-2012 12:50 PM
Great videos. Always amazing to see the Shuttle/747 combo (which I have seen once after STS-76 when they came to Tucson for fuel).
Still, I'm bitterly disappointed to see the Shuttles retired to museums with nothing comparable to replace it either now or in the foreseeable future...
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42986 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 09-25-2012 08:38 AM
The Google Earth blog shares that DigitalGlobe captured Endeavour while it was being ferried over the White Sands Missile Range in this satellite image.
In this image, the color offset of the aircraft occurs when a fast moving object is imaged by the satellite as the panchromatic image is collecting just slightly before the color image of the same location. When the image is merged together to make a color high resolution image, there is a slight offset on fast moving objects.
Hart Sastrowardoyo Member
Posts: 3445 From: Toms River, NJ Registered: Aug 2000
posted 09-25-2012 08:44 AM
quote:Originally posted by mikepf: II did get to meet Karol Bobko and Steve Robinson.
Any other astronauts present? Heard also Garrett Reisman, Mike Fincke and Greg Chamitoff were around.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42986 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 09-25-2012 09:33 AM
Chamitoff, Fincke and Reisman were joined by Chilton and Cockrell at the LAX ceremony. Hire, along with Chamitoff, Feustel and Box Johnson, were at Kennedy Space Center the departure.
Clay Anderson came out for the Ellington arrival and I've heard other astronauts came over from JSC to see Endeavour while it was in Houston.
328KF Member
Posts: 1234 From: Registered: Apr 2008
posted 09-28-2012 07:20 PM
Here's a great video from the Dryden folks taken from one of the chase aircraft, including intercom and air to air audio.
posted 09-19-2012 08:05 AM
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