As part of the decommissioning by NASA of the Space Shuttle program, the Space Shuttle Enterprise was flown to New York City today, where it shall join the floating air and space museum on board the U.S.S. Intrepid. Weather in New York City had delayed its arrival, but the skies were clear enough to carry out the shuttle flight. The Intrepid is home to many historic aircraft, including an SR-71, the world′s fastest known manned airplane. Enterprise had been at the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum just outside of Washington, DC, but was replaced by Shuttle Discovery. The Enterprise was built to test flight controls for the shuttle to glide and land back on Earth from from space.

space shuttle nyc

A modified 747 jetliner has been used by NASA for ferrying the space shuttles all throughout the shuttle program. Enterprise, named by popular demand by fans of the Star Trek TV series, was the first shuttle built and made numerous flights, piggy-backed on the 747 over the flight range at Edwards Air Force Base. Not only were its flight characteristics determined during these test flights, but NASA also quickly learned an important lesson. The special, heat-resistant tiles made to protect an actual shuttle during re-entry into the Earth′s atmosphere, came loose due to the glue used being too weak. NASA had to invent a better super-glue for its future shuttles.

The two remaining Space Shuttles, Endeavour and Atlantis, are also to be museum pieces. While Atlantis will remain in Florida at the Kennedy Space Visitors Center at Cape Canaveral, the Endeavour is slated for a ride to Los Angeles to be displayed at the California Science Center. Thus will end the last flight of our beloved space shuttles. A symbol of American greatness and exceptionalism. All by the hand of Barack Obama, who has ended manned space flight for the United States.

Thanks to better weather in New York City, the Space Shuttle Enterprise arrived at JFK International Airport. From there, she will be rolled to her new home on board the U.S.S. Intrepid, a floating air and space museum on the west side of NYC. On hand for her arrival was none other than Leonard Nimoy, who played Mr. Spock on the TV series, Star Trek, whose fans convinced NASA to name the shuttle Enterprise after.