Space Shuttle Endeavour is scheduled to boldly make its last ascent Monday evening without leaving the ground, as it's prepped to be hoisted into a unique vertical display at the California Science Center. Having rested in a horizontal state as a crowd-pleaser for over a decade, the shuttle is about to rise to a new occasion. According to FOX LA, the retired orbiter will be lifted by a 450-foot crane over Exposition Park into its new position at the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center.
In a monumental undertaking, crews at the California Science Center have planned to carefully sling the 122-foot-long Endeavour into the air starting at 10:00 p.m. Monday, weather permitting. The lift, detailed by NBC Los Angeles, will see the shuttle rise 200 to 300 feet before being anchored in a launch position between two rocket boosters and next to ET-94, a 65,000-pound external fuel tank.
The intricate transition, expected to stretch several hours into early Tuesday morning, isn't just a spectacle; it signifies Endeavour's final positioning. The entire "Go For Stack" procedure concludes with the orbiter's integration, completing what will become the world’s sole example of a vertical, launch-ready space shuttle display. Curator Dr. Kenneth Phillips shared with NBC Los Angeles that "Very slowly, we will lower the back part of the shuttle, remove the back crane, and then we'll have the entire shuttle on one cable point."
While excitement builds, operatives have to be mindful, especially given past delays due to high winds experienced during the lifting of the ET-94. With an eye firmly on ensuring the shuttle’s safety throughout the process, any similar adverse conditions might force it to again delay the operation. This vertical tribute, rising nearly 20 stories tall, will serve as the centerpiece of the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center which aims to double the current exhibit space offered. When finally open to the public, the center, as stated in FOX LA, aims to feature immersive galleries themed for air, space, and shuttle endeavors in a sprawling 200,000-square-foot development.
Completion awaits the $400 million Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center, with an exact opening date not yet disclosed. Meanwhile, Endeavour stands to soon perform a stationary 'lift-off' that will redefine its legacy and contribution to space exploration – at least from the public's vantage point on Earth.
