On Friday September 20, 2012 a one of a kind flight will land at Los Angeles International Airport. This flight will not be full of passengers going on vacation or visiting Hollywood. Instead it will have only one VIP that will be spending its final days in the great state of California. The Space Shuttle Endeavour will be arriving piggyback on a modified 747 aircraft.
Returning to where it was constructed by Rockwell International, and returned from space landing at Edwards Air Force Base. Endeavour completed 25 missions in space, spending 296 days, and traveling almost 123 million miles, now it is time for retirement. But first it will have to make a 12 mile trip to its new home. It is too bad E-Z Rent-A-Car does not have any rentals big enough to transport it to the California Science Center. The trip is requiring hundreds of trees to be removed along with power lines and traffic lights. This route was considered for any future city projects that may have needed these trees removed. After the move is completed over 750 new trees will be planted.
After the move that the science center has dubbed mission 26, the Endeavour will be on display for visitors to the California Science Center. Billed as the largest hands-on science center on the west coast, a newly constructed addition will be the permanent display for visitors. Make your plans now to take a vacation to southern California, rent a car, and see history.
