He added, “The California Science Center has been fortunate to have a remarkable group of experts devoted to this project who have decades of experience working with NASA and the shuttle program – some from the very first space shuttle launch in 1981. This is a dream over 30 years in the making, and a feat that has never before been accomplished outside of a NASA or Air Force facility,” said Jeffrey Rudolph, president and CEO of the California Science Center. “With the lift and mating of Endeavour, we have successfully completed the last-ever space shuttle stack. The stacking process has never been done outside of a NASA facility before, and marks the first time in more than 10 years that Endeavour has been seen in a liftoff-ready position. 2h0w367Wcs- CA Science Center January 31, 2024 □ This marks the first time this process has been accomplished outside of a NASA or Air Force facility. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.Watch the moment space shuttle Endeavour was lifted into future Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. The shuttle received rock star treatment upon its arrival, with people lining the streets to watch the craft move from Los Angeles International Airport to the California Science Center in October 2012. The final move comes more than a decade after Endeavour rolled through the streets of Los Angeles. The external fuel tank move, however, was delayed by winds and needed 14 hours over two days to complete. It took about six hours to install the rockets, nearly the same time needed to complete Endeavor’s soft mate. The rockets, external tank and orbiter were installed over a seven-month period, with the twin 149-feet solid rocket boosters assembled between July and November, the external tank in early January and the orbiter on Tuesday. Scaffolding was constructed, removed and adjusted throughout various parts of the positioning. The stacking process at the Los Angeles site presented challenges to engineers who were used to multiple cranes and platforms used at the Kennedy Space Center. Read more: A successful liftoff: Space shuttle Endeavour's rockets are installed It will be a few years before the shuttle will be accessible to the public as the space museum and its other exhibits are constructed. The covering is not expected to be removed until construction of the 20-story Oschin Center, which will be built around the full-stack display, is complete. One of two solid rocket motors, seen here being offloaded in 2020 at the Mojave Air and Space Port, will be delivered to the California Science Center in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Oct. The orbiter was enclosed to protect it from work site pollution and the elements. (Ringo Chiu / For The Times)Įngineers shrink-wrapped the shuttle a week earlier, “using a great big heat gun fueled by a propane tank,” according to Clark. Piers Brinkley, right, and Clare David take photos as the space shuttle Endeavour is prepared to be lifted at the California Science Center. "Where Endeavour is positioned now is basically where it's going to be," Rudolph said.
During that time, the crane’s sling will be removed, the space shuttle will stand without assistance and all of its parts will be bolted into place. The “hard mate” may happen as early as Tuesday evening, but it could take a couple of days, Rudolph said. The giant orange tube is the last such tank in existence. The second part will be the “capture” - the process of attaching Endeavour to the 15-story external fuel tank dubbed ET-94. The first part of the move, which began Monday night and finished Tuesday morning, was known as the “soft mate” and consists of the orbiter’s hoisting and lowering near the external fuel tank and rockets. Read more: Space shuttle Endeavour's giant orange external tank begins final journey “Once the crane gets the orbiter within about 4 inches of where it needs to be, will take over lowering the rest of the way with micro-inch capability,” Clark said. Workers and engineers tossed electric cables and ropes from scaffolding as the final few feet of movement were handled by a hydraulic Hydra-Set mounted control box operator. Crew members watch as the space shuttle Endeavour is placed into position at the future Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center at the California Science Center.