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Getting To Know NYC's Space Shuttle: The Enterprise
By
Jen Carlson
Published May 17, 2011
Modified May 17, 2011
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By
Jen Carlson
Published May 17, 2011
Modified May 17, 2011
Share
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As America's space vehicles are launched into retirement, and the Intrepid Sea Air & Space Museum anticipates its very own shuttle, the Enterprise, the press is busy kicking its tires... or at least reflecting back on the glory days. For the shuttle Enterprise, there really aren't that many exciting stories (except that time the cast of Star Trek came to visit) because it never orbited space. However, this week the NY Post had astronaut Richard Truly pen a thoughtful look back at the Enterprise's days with NASA.
He wrote, "Not since President John Kennedy's challenge to the nation in 1961 had we been filled with the passion and drive to fly a new breed of spacecraft beyond Earth's atmosphere into the uncharted vastness of space. And—thanks to Enterprise—we did it." He notes that she was the "first of this new breed" of shuttle.
While "she" isn't here yet, you can click through for some photos of the ol' gal from 1985. Meanwhile, yesterday the space shuttle Endeavour celebrated its 25th birthday with a final launch, watch below (and check out the view from the clouds here):
Tagged
enterprise
nasa
space shuttle
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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