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"It brings a tear to your eye," said Richard Kaplan of Massapequa Park, one of the many spectators gathered near Queens' Cross Bay Bridge Sunday afternoon.
VIDEO: Space shuttle Enterprise sails towards Intrepid
The Enterprise gave New Yorkers much to admire in late April when it flew around New York City's most famous sites atop a 747 jet before landing at Kennedy. Its boat ride to the Intrepid Sunday also involved notable sites: cruising across New York Harbor, it passed the Marine Parkway-Gil Hodges Memorial Bridge, Coney Island, and went under the Verrazano Bridge before it docked at Port Elizabeth, N.J. "I would have been here at 2 in the morning if I knew the thing was going to be here," said Kaplan. "It's that important."
-- Reported by Jonathan Vigliotti NBCNewYork.com
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Great photo, great Space Shuttle! Gotta put the Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum on my bucket list!
Thought that fukin Sully retired?
except you won't be able to go on board
That's a great photo! I'd go crazy if I saw this in person.
Cheetah, is it really necessary to use that kind of language. Just because you're behind a keyboard doesn't make you invulnerable.
"Get over ourselves all you self-righteous creeps."
Your words Kitty - you the third grade hall monitor?
An amazing sight...
You do hate to see this retired, the U.S. has always been a leader in technology, aviation and space technology ... seeing this retired with nothing to replace it is a shame. Hopefully they continue developing something new with NASA and get something to replace it soon.
Private enterprise can do the job much more efficiently than NASA. We just shot a cargo rocket to the space station successfully.
Well, from what I remember of it the first attempt was a no go? If my car only starts every other day, then that's 50% efficiency, no? And that was an unmanned shot. There's no way you'd find me in a "private enterprise" craft until SpaceX or whoever's been doing it successfully a long time. It's always been private enterprise, just different companies. First it was the people who worked for Adolf Hitler's companies.
Daniel Scott Smith,
The only reason the first attempt was scrubbed was because the safety protocols are so stringent, and detected the results of a bad check valve. If you will remember the early days of NASA you may recall that there were a significant number of catastrophic failures during launch. Space X has a stellar safety record, and can do the job for a lot less than NASA ever could.
We? Like you had anything to do with it.
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Private enterprise can do the job much more efficiently than NASA. We just shot a cargo rocket to the space station successfully.
#3.1 - Mon Jun 4, 2012 2:41 AM EDT
amused,
I am sure he meant we as in, the US. You know, people say things like that out of this little thing called Patriotism. You know, when people used to be proud of the things we acheive as a nation, and were greatful to be living in the place where those things are happening.
There isn't a single government agency that has been as efficient as NASA. If you add up all the spending by the U.S. government less than 1% has been allocated to NASA. They are responsible for 90% of the technology we use today.
Daryl, from what I can see they were awarded about $278 million in development assistance, not billions. They have a multi-billion dollar contract for the actual deliveries they will make to the ISS in the coming years. The cost per ton of equipment delivered will be a fraction of the cost of the Shuttles. Keep in mind that right now the money for these tasks would be going to the Russians for the same deliveries. Wouldn't you rather the money go to Americans?
Also, the coming manned versions of the craft are aiming to deliver crew members to and from the ISS for less than a third of what we pay Russia today for use of their Soyuz craft. So sure, they needed NASA to start, but NASA also needs them.
daryl, as hiap stated, it was about $300 million and those funds were matched by SpaceX. Also, though Cape Canaveral was used (mainly due to proper launch position for achieving ISS orbit), NASA deferred to SpaceX personnel for decisions and making adjustments.
Daniel, take a look at NASA's early history with launching rockets. Everything has a learning curve, and launching rockets into space successfully has a steep one.
That truly is an awesome photo. But my geek stripes are showing...it made me think of the Star Trek movie (IV, The Voyage Home) where the crew of the Enterprise crashes into the water in San Francisco bay (granted, in a stolen Klingon Bird of Prey), near the Golden Gate Bridge (similar to the bridge in this photo) with the two whales from the 20th century...hey you either know the flick or you don't. LOL
If you all can forgive my moment of extreme geekiness, consider how cool this photo truly is!
double dumbass on you!
(a line from the movie--)
No, I'm from Iowa, I only work in outer space.
Everybody remember where we parked.
Ha Ha Ha....good one Marla-3071717....one of my fav lines from the movie is that one and I use it often!!
At a time when government is so concerned with fiscal responsibility and cutting the deficit just how much is it costing the taxpayer to cart these things around? It just doesn't make any sense to me. Sit it somewhere and let people come and see it if they choose. Yeah, it's so great and all the space stuff and Star Trek and all that but really folks what has it really done to eleviate problems down here on the planet, I'd say very little.
I could be mistaken but generally artifacts such as these are paid for by the museum to be moved around and shown off here and there on exhibit. Its possible we are paying for it to be moved but i think the museum will be picking up this tab.
With that said, I will pay my share of the taxes to get this thing put in a museum where me and my family have the chance to see it up close and personal if the NASA is footing the bill. It is a piece of national history and pride which up until recently you could only see on TV or 5 miles away before it blasted off.
Each museum paid $25 million for their shuttle. That money pays for the 747 delivery and prep for display. The intrepid Museum paid for the crane to load it, and the barge to bring it around Manhattan.
As far as I know, there's no taxpayer money involved.
jpsholly you are a complete idiot. we got tons of benefits from the space program. that is the ONE program the government SHOULD be spending it's $ on rather than the trillions going down the sewers in the welfare, food stamp. and other entitlement programs. I grew up w/ the space ace. we should have orbiting space stations and colonies on the moon and Mars by now. it is the friggin' 21st century after all.
Well Said JTKIRK! Even if they are paying for it, it is so worth it! JPSHolly, your dumber than a box of rocks, it's not hard to balance the budget, or create a massive surplus. Cut Welfare, and only let people who pass a drug screening to recieve it, and put a time or monetary limit on it. Or make them work for the city where they are residing to ge the funds! Secondly, Make the 150MILLION Americans not paying taxes start paying, after all they are the ones drawing money from the system, they should be paying into it too! Finally, privatize SS, it will balance the program, allow voluntary entrance to the program. Boom, problem solved. not to mention, 25m? That is chump change to anyone in government these days!
Let's see, what did we get from the space program?
Advanced computers, miniaturization of electronics, robotic surgery, remote medical telemetry, advances in construction materials, GPS navigation, smoke detectors, improved water purification systems, improved simulation software, improved navagation software, improved medical scanners.........
And Tang. We got Tang.
Go visit the Intrepid, or the shuttles in LA, DC or Houston... But all you'll get to do is look from behind a velvet rope. But visit the Museum of Flight in Seattle & you get to actually go inside & touch the shuttle trainer. Sure, it didnt go into space, but every shuttle astronaut trained in her... and you'll be able to go aboard too. Then you can walk next door & see a Concorde, a 707 that served as Airforce One, the very first 747. and a host of other famous planes & space vehicles.
Houston isn't getting a shuttle. The last one to fly (Atlantis) is staying at KSC in FL. Maybe there's another trainer or mock-up at the JSC in Houston, but not an actual shuttle.
Hate to burst your "Seattle is awesome" bubble but you can go aboard the trainer in Houston as well (the consolation prize for not getting a real shuttle). And while you're there why not see the Saturn V rocket? All the jet aircraft? And hey, Space Center Houston.
The shuttle is not on "it's way", but rather "its way". I see this error so often on this blog that I could not resist the urge to mention this tonight. Thanks for so many terrific images.
knowing the people in New York, I will bet 95% of them don't realize they won't be able to go on board, and all it end up being is another yawner- yup, that's a shuttle (mind you, New York did not even merit a real, space operating one) but then with their sense of entitlement, they will want the actual International Space Station to park on a barge off of the United Nations. EMDF is right- at least the one in Seattle people can actually go on board, and that is more than half the fun- pushing buttons, sitting in the Commander's chair- all things the citizens of NY, or Kennedy Space Center, or Houston, or Los Angeles WON'T get a chance to do.
What a great Photo ! On July 20th, 1969, I was on the Verrazano Narrows Bridge when the Eagle landed. Lots of people were, I suppose... but as a 12-year-old from Indiana, visiting relatives, my parents pointed out that I should remember where I was at that moment.
Wow! is all I can say...
Landed that one on a dime
too bad we stop space flight program, until 2022... hope China and Russian not pass us on Space technology
Russia and China will have bases on the moon by 2022.
Glenn, please Google NASA and read. Considering we have rovers on Mars, another on its way to Mars, New Horizons, Dawn, and the legacy Voyager programs, I fail to see how we "stop space flight program, until 2022". Now if you mean human spaceflight, then yes, we have reached the spaceflight brought on by Congress failing to fund a Shuttle successor. Check out the Orion program.
Jerry, no one will have a base on the Moon by 2022. Russia isn't even working on anything relating to Moon bases (they are considering new space stations in Earth orbit), and China seriously lacks the human spaceflight experience, not to mention technical expertise, to attempt an Apollo-style mission let alone leave humans there permanently. Don't believe the political spin.
This reminds me of that big barg of trash that left New Jersey that finally returned because nobody would take it....
Since the space shuttle in on water, did they replace the asstronauts with seamen?
That's a dam big fishing lure........must be a surface jig.......
Can't go aboard, meh, what like the Russian is gonna steal this 70's technology?
I wonder why they decided to move the Enterprise from the Smithsonian/Dulles location... oh nevermind, they are getting the Discovery now, a shuttle that actually went into space.
SPECTACULAR is the only word i can come up with sight, makes me feel very Proud
This is the second time that she has gone to sea. She made the same type of trip back in 1984 when she was floated from mobile Alabama over to New Orleans for the Worlds Fair.
Private industry can pickup where NASA left off. Government was better suited to research, make it possible, and explore space. Private sector never would have been able to afford nor do it without opportunity for profit. And the profit never would have been there from the outset. NASA made it possible. I agree its time for the private sector to get involved.
You all don't know what you are talking about. My husband takes pride in working for the shuttle program and it has carried over to having him help take the Enterprise to it's final resting place. I'm pride to have the prototype be displayed on one of the greatest ship and I'm not from NY but from Florida.
Its all in the name, Enterprise. What a great vision it will make as a model sitting on a shelf in a Star Fleet Captain's quarters.
Seems like I remember a photo of it on Picard's wall on TNG.
And now our President is leading us back to the donkey and the mule.
Way cool.....sad to see the shuttles go, but its all about moving forward, stuff get left behind. I always did want to see one of em take off.
Being an avid Star Trek fan, I would hope the the name enterprise doesn't get left out in future names for our space endeavors........... I would have loved to see it's final journey. Guess a trip to NY is in order... :)
NASA can be proud of the SPACE SHUTTLE and ALL the JOBS and Private Businesses it has created. This Baby will be ever remembered. The WORKHORSE of Space TRANSPORT, both MAN and MATERIALS, SCIENCE, you name it it has done.
I remember the FIRST TEST FLIGHT to SPACE what a rocket. I mean it was FAST MOVING a site for WIDE EYES and AWE !!!!
It was the teaching instrument for PRIVATE INDUSTRIES, Who are now the NEW WONDERS for that first step forward.
The end of an era. I worked on the Space Shuttle project at Johnson Space Center in the late 70's, before the first flight. Now it's retired. Makes me feel really old. But, then I am really old...
stupid jerks shoulda just fixed the old shuttles and kept using them
theres no reason that we need a space program at all much less go to mars just becase obama wants to
it theyd reuse the shuttles , close down the space program totall or get the fraud out of medicare or stayed out iraq and afghanastan we whouldnt have a money proble
Yeah, no need to go to mars, just build a moon base like Gingrich wanted....
ted, as much as I loved the Shuttle, retiring them was the correct call (a decision made by President Bush). The technology was 1970's era, and the high cost to orbit and maintenance was inhibiting new programs. Plus, the possibility of the loss of another vehicle grew each time one lifted off. When you look at the whole picture, it was the correct decision.
NASA, in addition to its space exploration role, also has an Earth Sciences division. This is the study of the Earth, including the monitoring of our weather and continuing research into weather patterns. Which is rather important right now, considering hurricane season just started.
I'm not going to touch the rest of your political ramblings