Houston gets NASA shuttle mock up to display....

[Perriwen]

No. Sorry, but its not really the same at all.

Actually, it is....

[gonzalu]

Actually, it is....

Actually, it is not...

[TJK]

The point is, you don't be careless with something priceless. :p I predicted this would happen, people called me simply bitter, and low and behold, ya' rammed the wing into a bridge and damaged a priceless national artifact. It doesn't matter if it's the wingtip ripped off or the whole wing ripped off, you still. damaged. the. shuttle. :p

Anyway, the parade the replica got was pretty nice. I'm anxious to take a look on the inside.



Early morning freezing caused a crack in the SRB's O-ring, causing a flame to lick out and ignite the external fuel tank.

You are in fact clearly pretty bitter. The fact that some dope from intrepid Or from the tug operation didn't take enough precautions to make sure the wingtips wouldn't sustain any damage, thereby making you arguably accurate, doesn't change that. The two concepts arent mutually exclusive. But thanks for showing up right on cue regardless.

[TJK]

You are in fact clearly pretty bitter. The fact that some dope from intrepid Or from the tug operation didn't take enough precautions to make sure the wingtips wouldn't sustain any damage, thereby making you arguably accurate, doesn't change that. The two concepts arent mutually exclusive. But thanks for showing up right on cue regardless.

Some photos of arrival from JSC:

Awww, your bridges are so wide it's not even a challenge! What, are the engineers in TX not confident in their tug crews or something? Just kidding, mostly. Nice fireworks photo. And again, thanks for showing up on cue.

[NickPeterman]

Glad to see that Houston got something. Any chance that Endeavor will make a pit stop there on her way to CA? I do believe that the SCA is limited to about 1,000 mile segments

[Perriwen]

Glad to see that Houston got something. Any chance that Endeavor will make a pit stop there on her way to CA? I do believe that the SCA is limited to about 1,000 mile segments

That's what we're hoping for. I know the SCA's done fly-bys with the shuttle over Ellington and JSC on the way back to the Cape from Edwards, so it only makes sense it may do it one last time.

I wonder if they could even sync the timing with Wings Over Houston and have them both on static display for the air show. THAT would be sweet. The SCA is a frequent visitor for that show anyway.

[Big Tim #70]

What is the config for the inside of the SCA?

[Perriwen]

What is the config for the inside of the SCA?

Completely hollow except for some seats and basic stuff in the front.

(not my pictures below)

[Big Tim #70]

Do they ever use it for anything else, i.e. freighter, transport, etc?

[megatop412]

I see it has the original spiral staircase! Classy!

[Perriwen]

Do they ever use it for anything else, i.e. freighter, transport, etc?

Latest I heard is they will soon be used with NASA's SOFIA airborne observatory (modified 747SP, see below) in some manner, I'm not sure if they're converting one or both of them into the observatories or just using them for the parts.

Regardless, after Endeavor, their transport days are over.

[captmjk16]

No offense to the arts community, but as far as I'm concerned, the "little scuff" (if I scuffed a boat or plane that bad when I was docking or maneuvering you can bet the USCG or FAA would be paying me a visit) is much worse than a little marker on the Mona Lisa, it's a painting fergodsakes. Maybe I'm not cultured enough, or maybe I'm too much of an engineer/aviation geek, but we're talking about one of 4 shuttles here that have actually taken to the skies (between the three actual orbiters and the Enterprise), if what you're looking for is a 20 by 30 image of an ambiguous woman with a slight smile, take your camera out, find someone, take a picture and print it!

[NIKV69]

Actually, it is....

Actually, it is not...