8. Space Shuttle Fly-Overs
With NASA’s manned spaceflight workhorses –- the Space Shuttles –- out of commission to make way for the Space Launch System, the agency moved the remaining orbiters to science museums across the country. Explorer, a full-scale model, was moved from Florida to Houston by barge, Enterprise was shifted from Washington, D.C. to New York City, and Atlantis was delivered to Kennedy Space Center. In April, Discovery –- bolted to the top of the 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft –- took a victory lap over the D.C. region before landing. The flyover went viral, as residents pointed camera phones skyward, intrigued by their incongruous visitor. In response to the attention generated by the event, Endeavour had an even busier flyover schedule for its journey from Florida to Los Angeles. The Shuttles’ last hurrah was an opportunity to reflect on the program’s longevity, successes, and failures, and wonder what the next chapter of NASA’s manned spaceflight program will bring.
Endeavour flies over iconic burger joint In N Out before landing at LAX. (Credit: Geoffrey Ravenhill)
