posted 05-04-2012 09:39 AM               

The shuttle is being barged in from Florida for its 10 day journey, and will do a floating pass right in front of our hotel, and then sit right next door to us!

There will be a street closure celebration, all day Saturday (June 2), then depart early Sunday morning to its less than 1 mile trek to the Space Center for its newest attraction.

posted 05-05-2012 06:37 AM               

quote:

---

Originally posted by Atlantis:
Looking closely, there appears to be a ramp leading up to the walk in area.

---

It would be extremely stupid to display it without a gantry because then visitors would see these big boxy doors on the starboard side and wonder what the heck those are all about.

posted 05-08-2012 03:06 PM               

Space Center Houston's Full-Size Space Shuttle Replica to arrive June 1

Plans underway for a weekend-long public "Shuttlebration" to mark its arrival

Sharing the ongoing story of human space exploration is about to get a major boost with a new Space Shuttle visitor experience coming soon to Space Center Houston. The full-scale Shuttle Orbiter replica is set to arrive on June 1, kicking off "Shuttlebration Weekend" to celebrate the opening of a new era in space exploration, outreach and education.

"NASA's Space Shuttle changed the way we all think about space, making it more accessible, understandable and useful," said Richard Allen, president of Space Center Houston. "It is our intent to continue that legacy with this exciting new attraction, which will offer a one-of-a-kind visitor experience that will engage, educate and inspire the next generation of explorers."

Once it is fully installed and prepared for visitors, the public will be able to go inside the full-size replica as part of a behind-the-scenes look at life inside the Space Shuttle, an experience that will only be available at Space Center Houston.

"Shuttlebration Weekend" begins on the afternoon of Friday, June 1, when the replica will arrive by barge at the Johnson Space Center (JSC) NASA Road 1 dock on Clear Lake near the Nassau Bay Hilton hotel. This will be the largest item to arrive at the dock since the Saturn V arrived for display in 1977.

The public is invited to a free street party between the dock and the hotel to witness and celebrate the historic arrival. The street party will include exhibits and static displays of new technologies and space vehicles that are being developed for the future of exploration, as well as local marching bands, food and entertainment.

On Saturday, June 2, the Space Shuttle replica will be loaded onto a mobile transfer vehicle for transport to Space Center Houston. The lakeside load-out will take a full day to complete. No public events are planned.

Early in the morning on Sunday, June 3, the replica will make a three-hour trek down NASA Road 1 from the Hilton to its permanent home at Space Center Houston. It will receive a futuristic VIP escort from JSC's prototype planetary rovers for future solar system exploration. Upon the replica's arrival, Space Center Houston, along with the Johnson Space Center, will host a free public celebration in its parking lot from 9 a.m. to noon. The family-oriented event will include more opportunities to see the Shuttle attraction up close, and to get a look at the latest ongoing developments in space exploration taking place at JSC.

"The arrival of the Space Shuttle attraction is the result of a great community-wide effort," said Michael Coats, Director of the NASA Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center (JSC). "Once open, the attraction will carry on the spirit of the Space Shuttle program by inspiring tomorrow's space pioneers."

Plans are still in progress for all of the "Shuttlebration Weekend" activities. Visit spacecenter.org for the latest information.

Following "Shuttlebration Weekend," the Space Shuttle replica will remain in Space Center Houston's parking lot while the permanent display venue is being completed. The long-term vision calls for a world-class education center to be built around the orbiter that provides historical context and a hands-on educational experience.

posted 05-09-2012 05:44 PM               

High-fidelity space shuttle mockup to make Houston landing June 1

A space shuttle will launch later this month from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, but rather than soar into the sky, it will set sail on the water.

The full-scale, high-fidelity space shuttle mockup, which was formerly known as "Explorer" for the 18 years it was displayed at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, will be loaded on a barge and leave the spaceport on May 20. Ten days later, it will arrive in Clear Lake near NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston, starting a three day festival welcoming the winged display to Texas.

Beginning June 1, "Shuttlebration Weekend" will celebrate the past and future of NASA's crewed space exploration programs, culminating in a parade to deliver the replica to Space Center Houston, the official visitor center for JSC.

posted 05-23-2012 01:35 PM               

Workers needed to complete some additional welds to secure the shuttle to the deck, and the winds are just above the limit for safely passing under one of the bridges on the way out to the ocean.

According to NASA, if the barge hasn't left by 4 p.m. EDT today, it will stay the night and try again on Thursday morning.

posted 05-24-2012 06:08 AM               

Space shuttle replica sets sail for Houston

A full-size replica of the space shuttle departed NASA's Florida spaceport for the agency's Texas space center on Thursday morning (May 24), riding on an open air barge.

The high-fidelity space shuttle mockup, which was known as "Explorer" for the 18 years it was displayed at NASA's Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida, will sail into Houston's Clear Lake on Friday, June 1.

posted 05-29-2012 06:55 PM               

Shuttlebration

Join us for this historic occasion as we welcome Space Center Houston's biggest addition ever, a full size shuttle replica. The replica will arrive by barge on the shores of Clear Lake this Friday! To celebrate its arrival, we will host a FREE street party at the Johnson Space Center (JSC) dock located at 3000 NASA Parkway on Clear Lake near the Hilton.

Friday, June 1:

• 2:00 p.m. — Event Area Open to Public

  Transportation to and from Johnson Space Center will begin. Street party area will include NASA space exploration exhibits, music and entertainment from 2 p.m. - 9 p.m.

• 3-5:00 p.m — Shuttle Replica Arrives at NASA Dock with Fire Boat Water Arch

• 4:30 p.m. — Welcome Ceremony and T-38 Flyover

• 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. — Music by Max Q, the all Astronaut Band

• 9:00 p.m. — Fireworks Display on Clear Lake

• 10:00 p.m. — Final Tram Returns to Parking Area

Saturday, June 2:

The space shuttle replica will be loaded onto a mobile transfer vehicle for transport to SCH. The lakeside load-out will take a full day to complete. There are no public events planned for this day.

Sunday, June 3:

• 5:00 - 8:00 a.m. — Replica transported along NASA Parkway from JSC dock to Space Center Houston. NASA Parkway and NASA 1 Bypass will be closed from 5 a.m. - 9 a.m.

• 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. — Following the arrival, there will be a free, family-oriented public celebration in the Space Center Houston parking lot, offering viewing opportunities of the replica, NASA space exploration exhibits, fun activities for the entire family and much more. Discount admission to Space Center Houston is available online.

There will be no pets, coolers or outside food/beverages allowed in the event area.

No public parking is available at the event site.

Parking is available at the Gate 3 entrance of Johnson Space Center. Gate 3 is located off of Space Center Blvd., the entrance nearest to the Hilton.

Trams will transport guests to and from the Shuttlebration event area.

posted 06-01-2012 05:30 PM               

Space shuttle replica docks in Houston lake, launches 'Shuttlebration'

A full-scale replica of a NASA space shuttle came into dock on Friday (June 1), but rather than pull into an orbiting space station, it arrived at port in a Texas lake near the space agency's Houston space center.

The high-fidelity space shuttle mockup, which was known as "Explorer" for the 18 years it was at NASA's Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida, sailed into Houston's Clear Lake to a dock opposite the Johnson Space Center (JSC), where it will be offloaded for display.

"Though this is not a space flown orbiter," JSC director Michael Coats said, "it is the only one we know that is seaworthy."

posted 06-03-2012 04:43 PM               

Sunday drive: Space shuttle replica's road trip to Space Center Houston

A replica space shuttle went on a Sunday morning (June 3) road trip, making its way from the Houston, Texas lakeside dock where it arrived on Friday to the NASA visitor center where it will go on public display.

The one-mile (1.6-kilometer) trek was originally scheduled to take just three hours to complete, but obstacles along the way doubled that time. The mockup, loaded atop a 144-wheel transporter, was slowly and methodically trucked down NASA Parkway — also known as NASA Road 1 — to Space Center Houston, the official visitor center for the Johnson Space Center (JSC).