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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.
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PATRICK T. FALLON
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AFP via Getty Images
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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.
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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.
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Mojave Air & Space Port
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Mojave Air & Space Port
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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)."
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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
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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.
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Curren Price Junior
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Curren Price Junior
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