Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum Space Shuttle Expansion

[stache]

From Wikipedia:

• Atlantis will be on display at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, near Cape Canaveral, Florida.

• Discovery was delivered to the Udvar-Hazy Center of the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum in Chantilly, Virginia, near Washington, D.C. On April 17, 2012, Discovery was flown atop a 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft escorted by a NASA T-38 Talon chase aircraft in a final farewell flight. The flyover and landing were widely covered on national news media.

• Endeavour will be delivered to the California Science Center in Los Angeles, California.

• Enterprise (atmospheric test orbiter), was on display at the National Air and Space Museum's Udvar-Hazy Center but has now been moved to the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum in New York City, New York ready to be exhibited later this year.^[40]

[ronsmytheiii]

http://collectspace.com/news/news-050912a.html

Enterprise's temporary home, a climate-controlled "Space Pavilion" on the converted aircraft carrier's flight deck, will open to the public on July 19. It will cost an additional $4 to $6 above regular admission to tour the shuttle exhibit.

Ultimately, the Intrepid plans a more expansive display for the prototype shuttle.

"Be a part of building a permanent home for the space shuttle Enterprise," reads the "Project Enterprise: Support the Space Shuttle" promotional card that was given out at the orbiter's arrival. "This new home on the West Side of Manhattan will make possible an expanding curriculum of educational programs designed to inspire future scientists, engineers and researchers."

Supporters can take part in Enterprise's "next journey" by sponsoring a star.

"Your star will appear now in a high visibility area of the temporary Enterprise exhibition space and prominently in the future permanent home of Enterprise," the card reads.

Sponsorship levels begin at $250 per star. For those who donate more, between $500 and $1000, additional gifts are offered, including an "Enterprise Star crystal cube" and a commemorative photo of Enterprise.

Beginning at the $5,000 level, the Intrepid is also offering invitations to "Enterprise events." These include viewing Enterprise being craned onto the museum's flight deck, or for $10,000, riding on a boat next to Enterprise as it sails up the Hudson River to the Intrepid.

And for its top tier supporters donating $25,000 (or more), donors will be invited to the opening of the Space Pavilion with visiting dignitaries.

[ronsmytheiii]

Video shows the view from the T-38 of Enterprise in the air and downtown NYC, looks amazing!

[injcsince81]

ronsmytheiii, thanks for posting the video. Great footage. It felt freezing that day in Liberty State Park, but everyone had a big smile. I am now looking forward to the barge trip. Too bad it will not coincide with the Fleet Week. It would be awesome to see all the sailors and fireboats saluting the Enterprise as she makes her final voyage.

[injcsince81]

On the ground in New York, Enterprise and the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft will remain mounted together at JFK until NASA can move and set-up the two large cranes that joined the two vehicles in Washington. Once "de-mated," Enterprise will be parked in an airport hangar for several weeks.

On June 4, Enterprise will be hoisted onto a specially-configured barge and towed down the Hudson River to a dock in Bayonne, NJ. Once there, the shuttle will be transferred to another barge outfitted with a large crane.

The crane-equipped barge will then complete the trip with Enterprise on June 6, pulling up next to the Intrepid and offloading the orbiter onto the museum's flight deck. A climate-controlled structure made of steel and fabric will then be erected over the shuttle beginning on June 7.

The Intrepid plans to open its new "Space Shuttle Pavilion" to the public on July 19. Inside, guests will find Enterprise displayed as if it were landing from one its test flights, its nose raised into the air and tailcone attached at its rear.

I am probably going to venture to the former MOTBY in Bayonne on June 4th or 6th. There may be a decent angle to take some photos. Either from MOTBY, or from the walkway by Bayonne Golf Club.

[BStyles]

I bet 1WTC would have blown their mind had it been topped out with the spire on.

[ronsmytheiii]

Enterprise has been removed from the SCA:

[injcsince81]

Enterprise has been removed from the SCA:

They'll have to close down Belt Parkway for that rig....

[lofter1]

Can't they display it so the bottom is totally visible and unencumbered by supports? That's the most beautiful part of this incredible machine.

They should hang it like the Jeff Koons Train sculpture that might end up at the High Line ...

Although when the size and weight is considered it might be a tricky proposition:

[HoveringCheesecake]

Chicago's entry had it displayed in flight, which I thought was neat. Maybe they will do that here once they actually build the separate building?

[injcsince81]

Can't they display it so the bottom is totally visible and unencumbered by supports? That's the most beautiful part of this incredible machine.

They should hang it like the Jeff Koons Train sculpture that might end up at the High Line ...

Although when the size and weight is considered it might be a tricky proposition:

The empty space shuttle weights 165,000 lbs (about 80 tons), not 2030 tons...

From a CalTech website:


How much does the Space Shuttle weigh? The Space Shuttle weighs 165,000 pounds empty.

[ronsmytheiii]

Can't they display it so the bottom is totally visible and unencumbered by supports? That's the most beautiful part of this incredible machine.

They should hang it like the Jeff Koons Train sculpture that might end up at the High Line ...

Although when the size and weight is considered it might be a tricky proposition:

Enterprise is going to be shown in a "mid flight" position in the final location to differentiate it from the other displays. Endeavour is slated to be shown in the vertical position with an External tank and SRB's which will hide a support structure to hold her up. On a normal stack, the orbiter's weight is transmitted to the external tank through attach points, which also hold the weight on the 747 and will do so on Enterprise. These attach points are literally the strongest points of the orbiter.

Enterprise is best known for her role in the ALT landings, and while she did do plenty of important testing in the vertical (Huntsville, KSC, Vandenberg) really suits her best as Intrepid has it.

[ronsmytheiii]

The journey for Enterprise begins on Friday, June 1 at 7 a.m.* when Enterprise, atop the trailer it was placed on when it was demated from the NASA Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA) 747, is rolled from its current location under a protective de-icing tent to a near-water location at John F. Kennedy (JFK) International Airport, for preparation to be placed onto the Weeks Marine barge that will ferry it to the Intrepid Museum. The shuttle will not be lifted onto the barge on this day. No media access to JFK for this event.



On Saturday, June 2, beginning between noon and 2p.m.*, Enterprise will be lifted by crane and placed onto the barge. Craning takes approximately three hours. Media invited; access begins at 11 a.m. Take Belt Parkway to Lefferts Blvd (Exit 1W); drive south; gate entrance to media site on left; parking along sides of the street near entrance. Viewing location across the water from craning point; approximately 100 yard throw. No cabling or live shots are permitted, per Port Authority. The barge will not depart JFK on this day.



On Sunday, June 3, at 7:45 a.m.*, the barge carrying Enterprise will depart JFK, towed by a Weeks Marine tugboat, and will travel along the shore of Queens and Brooklyn, passing the Gil Hodges Memorial Bridge at 3:30 p.m.; Coney Island at 4:19 p.m.; and under the Verrazano Bridge at 5:34 p.m. before docking at Weeks Marine in Port Elizabeth, NJ at 6:00 p.m. No media access to JFK departure point or at Weeks Marine on June 3. Media encouraged to find optimal shooting points along approximate path of shuttle.



On Monday, June 4, the barge and shuttle will remain at Weeks Marine in Port Elizabeth, NJ. No media access to Weeks Marine during this time.



On Tuesday, June 5, at 9:15 a.m.*, the barge and shuttle will leave Weeks Marine, passing the Statue of Liberty at 9:50 a.m.*; the World Trade Center at 10:40 a.m.*; and travel up the Hudson River, completing its journey at the Intrepid Museum at 11:30 a.m.* where it will be lifted by crane onto the flight deck and put into position facing the Hudson River. Craning operation takes three hours*. Media invited to craning event at Intrepid Museum; enter at 46th Street and 12th Avenue.

Info on arrival

[ronsmytheiii]

images of lift to the first barge, heading to NJ tomorrow:

[ronsmytheiii]

Enterprise has traveled to New Jersey: