Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
A Pair Of Rocket Boosters Being Delivered Stopped LA Traffic And Ignited Social Media
Astronaut Doug Hurley stands for photos with a group of students as the Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Motors (SRM) are transported down Figueroa Street to the California Science Center to complete the Solid Rocket Booster and be stacked in a vertical display with NASA's Space Shuttle Endeavour in Los Angeles on Oct.11, 2023.
(
PATRICK T. FALLON
/
AFP via Getty Images
)
A pair of solid rocket motors closed roadways on Wednesday as they carefully made the final leg of their journey to the California Science Center — and they lit up social media in the process.
The engines are part of the space shuttle Endeavour's new “Go For Stack” exhibition scheduled to open in 2025. The exhibit will showcase the Endeavour standing vertically beside the 116-foot-long rocket motors.
“Eleven years after Endeavour’s memorable crosstown journey we’re delighted to invite the public to join us once again to be a part of this next historic arrival,” said Jeffrey Rudolph, president and CEO of the science center.
The current horizontal iteration of the Endeavour exhibit will remain in place at the Samuel Oschin Pavilion until Dec. 31.
Support for LAist comes from
The motors were donated by Northrop Grumman. They've been housed at the Mojave Air & Space Port about 100 miles north of Los Angeles. The airfield also posted the travel itinerary and navigation route the caravan took to arrive at the California Science Center in Exposition Park.
The planned travel route the Space Shuttle Endeavour Motors took Tuesday and Wednesday as depicted in Google Maps.
(
Mojave Air & Space Port
/
Mojave Air & Space Port
)
The Mojave Air & Space Port wrote on Facebook, "the SRMs are big enough to take up a full lane. They are probably trying to make sure if anything happens they aren’t shutting down a good portion of the major freeways."
The two-day trip was captured by some lucky motorists on the highways. The California Highway Patrol showed the caravan in an Instagram Reel, advising drivers to give the engines space.
According to the California Science Center, the two motors will be installed in the Shuttle Gallery of the future Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center. Once stacked, "these elements will complete the Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs)."
Support for LAist comes from
Space Shuttle Endeavour Solid Rocket Boosters on their way to California Science Center #Endeavour #Californiasciencecenter pic.twitter.com/0jmmh1EFSa
— C K (@ckgottafly) October 10, 2023
Space enthusiast Rich Par spotted their overnight rest area along the 605 South in Irwindale on Tuesday and posted about it on X, formerly Twitter.
Found the SRBs!
— Rich Par (@AstroPnoy) October 10, 2023
Endeavour's solid rocket boosters are currently parked on the shoulder of the 605 South freeway...in the city of Irwindale. 🙂
Can't wait to see the boosters at the California Science Center tomorrow!#SoCal #EndeavourLA #GoForStack pic.twitter.com/TfLzgiAKDb
It was a relatively quick trip from Irwindale into Los Angeles, and many spectators and photographers were able to snap the motors entering into LA in the wee hours of the morning. X user Russ Vandeveerdonk spotted workers moving the motors along Figueroa Boulevard this morning.
NASA Endeavour Space Shuttle rocket boosters tanks on Figueroa Boulevard this morning here in LA! 😯🚛🚀📡🇺🇸 #NASA #USC #RUSSJFK pic.twitter.com/HM4ETOIkFT
— Russ Vandeveerdonk (@RussVandeveerd2) October 11, 2023
This morning, I had the opportunity to witness something truly magical through the eyes of our local children as two massive Solid Rocket Motors (SRMs) arrived at the California Science Center in District 9.
— Curren D. Price, Jr. (@CurrenDPriceJr) October 11, 2023
1/5 pic.twitter.com/0PBuNRyA02
Support for LAist comes from
Finally, a big crowd greeted the solid rocket motors as they were delivered to the California Science Center around 9 a.m. Wednesday. L.A. City Councilman Curren Price Jr., who represents Council District 9 where the California Science Center resides, was there with local schoolchildren as the massive cargo pulled into its final destination.
The Endeavour Solid Rocket Motors pulling into the California Science Center for delivery Wednesday morning.
(
Curren Price Junior
/
Curren Price Junior
)
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake. -
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
-
Censorship has long been controversial. But lately, the issue of who does and doesn’t have the right to restrict kids’ access to books has been heating up across the country in the so-called culture wars.
-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity.
-
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
-
Monarch butterflies are on a path to extinction, but there is a way to support them — and maybe see them in your own yard — by planting milkweed.
Best of LAist