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Watch a time-lapse video of the Space Shuttle Endeavour's final voyage

Posted Oct 18th 2012 7:58PM

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Space Shuttle Endeavour in Los Angeles

Moving the Space Shuttle Endeavour from its temporary home at the Los Angeles International Airport to its final resting place at the California Science Center was anything but a simple task. Though the distance was but a mere 19 km (12 miles), the shuttle's 78-foot wingspan, 122-foot length and 57-foot height cause major clearance issues.

Plus, including its support mechanism, the Endeavour package weight in at 292,000 pounds, (132,449 kg) which meant almost 2,700 steel plates had to be affixed to the road surface to support the payload. And through one portion of its travel over the 405 Freeway, the shuttle was towed by a Toyota Tundra pickup truck.

All of these challenges made moving Endeavour a logistical nightmare, and it arrived several hours later than planned. But arrive it did, in one piece with no damage, and we're lucky that its move was followed by so many camera-wielding spectators that the Los Angeles Times was able to piece together an awe-inspiring time-lapse video.

Click here to see for yourself.



News Source: YouTube via Los Angeles Times


Shuttle Endeavour Touches Down in New Home

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valk362

Was not towed by a tundra pick up truck lol. The trailers are SPMT's Self Propelled Modular Transport. They moved the shuttle via remote control. It can go up and down as well.

October 19 2012 at 1:21 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply