Eine langsame letzte Reise für die ausgemusterte US-Raumfähre „Endeavour“: Mit einer Geschwindigkeit von rund drei Kilometern pro Stunde rollte der Weltraumriese am Freitag und Samstag durch die Straßen von Los Angeles.
Dieser Artikel ist älter als ein Jahr!
Der Startschuss für die „Mission 26“ an Bord eines Spezialtransporters war im Morgengrauen am Freitag gefallen. Bis zum Samstagabend (Ortszeit) sollte das Space Shuttle den knapp 20 Kilometer langen Weg vom Flughafen der kalifornischen Metropole zu seinem endgültigen Ausstellungsort, dem California Science Center, zurücklegen.
The driver of the Over Land Transporter is seen as he maneuvers the space shuttle Endeavour on the streets of Los Angeles as it heads to its new home at the California Science Center in this October 12, 2012 NASA handout photo. Beginning Oct. 30, the shut
The space shuttle Endeavour sits in a strip mall as a Hawaiian Airlines jet approaches a runway at Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles, Friday, Oct. 12, 2012. Endeavours 12-mile road trip kicked off shortly before midnight Thursday as it move
The space shuttle Endeavour parks in front of Randys Donuts on Manchester Boulevard in Inglewood, California October 12, 2012. Endeavour nosed out of Los Angeles International Airport before dawn on Friday as it began a two-day journey at 2 miles per hour
The space shuttle Endeavour makes its way east down Manchester Boulevard under the eyes of a Dexter billboard in Westchester, California, October 12, 2012. Endeavour nosed out of Los Angeles International Airport before dawn on Friday as it began a two-da
The Space Shuttle Endeavour slowly moves along city streets on a 160-wheeled carrier in Los Angeles, Friday, Oct. 12, 2012. Endeavours 12-mile road trip kicked off shortly before midnight Thursday as it moved from its Los Angeles International Airport han
Spectators take pictures from the roof of a building as the Space Shuttle Endeavour slowly moves along city streets, Friday, Oct. 12, 2012, in Los Angeles. The shuttle is on its last mission _ a 12-mile creep through city streets _ on its way to the Calif
epa03431064 The Space Shuttle Endeavour is slowly moved along city streets in Los Angeles, USA, 12 October 2012. Space Shuttle Endeavour is on its Mission 26 The Big Endeavour trip across the city to the California Science Center where it will be put on p
Crowds gather to catch a glimpse of Space Shuttle Endeavour as it makes its way from Westchester square to Randys Donuts during its final ground journey in Los Angeles, California October 12, 2012. Endeavour nosed out of Los Angeles International Airport
epa03431312 Space Shuttle Endeavour en route from Westchester square to Randys Donuts during its final ground journey in Los Angeles, California, USA, 12 October 2012. Over the next two days, the 170,000-pound (77,272 kg) shuttle will travel at no more
epa03431062 An onlooker takes a picture of the Space Shuttle Endeavour as it is slowly moved along city streets in Los Angeles, USA, 12 October 2012. Space Shuttle Endeavour is on its Mission 26 The Big Endeavour trip across the city to the California Sci
Policemen watch Space Space Shuttle Endeavour as it makes its way from Westchester square to Randys Donuts during its final ground journey in Los Angeles, California October 12, 2012. Endeavour nosed out of Los Angeles International Airport before dawn on
epa03431311 Space Shuttle Endeavour en route from Westchester square to Randys Donuts during its final ground journey in Los Angeles, California, USA, 12 October 2012. Over the next two days, the 170,000-pound (77,272 kg) shuttle will travel at no more
Space Shuttle Endeavour is seen reflected in a window on route from Westchester square to Randys Donuts during its final ground journey in Los Angeles, California on October 12,2012. Over the next two days, the 170,000-pound (77,272 kg) shuttle will tra
Space Shuttle Endeavour makes its way from Westchester square to Randys Donuts during its final ground journey in Los Angeles, California October 12, 2012. Endeavour nosed out of Los Angeles International Airport before dawn on Friday as it began a two-da
The space shuttle Endeavour slowly moves along city streets on a 160-wheeled carrier, Friday, Oct. 12, 2012, in Los Angeles. The shuttle is on its last mission _ a 12-mile creep through city streets _ on its way to the California Science Center in South L
Tausende Schaulustige säumten die Straßen, um das komplizierte Manöver zu verfolgen. An manchen Stellen mussten Stromleitungen mit riesigen Kränen angehoben werden, um die „Endeavour“ darunter passieren zu lassen. Bei einer Spannweite von 26 Metern und einem rund 20 Meter hohen Heck war es teilweise Millimeterarbeit, um sie an Hauswänden, Ampeln, Straßenlaternen und Bäumen vorbeizulenken.
Transport kostet 10 Millionen Dollar Vorab waren fast 400 Bäume gefällt worden. Das Wissenschaftsmuseum wollte im Gegenzug viermal so viele Bäume neu pflanzen. Die Transportkosten wurden auf 10 Millionen Dollar (rund 7,72 Millionen Euro) geschätzt. Ab dem 30. Oktober ist die Raumfähre dann in dem California Science Center als Museumsstück zu bewundern.
Im September war die „Endeavour“
einer umgebauten Boeing 747 vom Weltraumbahnhof in Cape Canaveral in Florida nach Kalifornien gebracht worden. Seit ihrem ersten Start am 7. Mai 1992 hatte sie insgesamt 25 Weltraum-Reisen von zusammen 299 Tagen unternommen. Genau wie die anderen verbliebenen Fähren der Nasa-Flotte wurde sie nach dem Ende des Shuttle-Programms im vergangenen Jahr in den Ruhestand versetzt und zum Ausstellungsstück erklärt.
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