NASA managers, in consultation with Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum officials, have selected April 27, to ferry space shuttle Enterprise from Washington Dulles International Airport to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York.
NASA’s 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft with Enterprise mounted atop will fly at a relatively low altitude over various parts of the New York City metropolitan area. The aircraft is expected to fly near a variety of landmarks, including the Statue of Liberty and Intrepid. After the flyover is complete, the SCA will land at JFK.
The Federal Aviation Administration is coordinating the flight, which is scheduled to occur between 9:30 and 11:30 a.m., EDT. The timing and exact route depend on weather and operational constraints. If the flight is postponed for any reason, a notice will be issued.
During the weeks following the arrival, Enterprise will be demated from the 747 and placed on a barge that will be moved by tugboat up the Hudson River to Intrepid in June. The shuttle will be lifted by crane and placed on the flight deck of the Intrepid where it will be on exhibit to the public starting this summer in a temporary climate-controlled pavilion. The Intrepid continues to work on a permanent exhibit facility to showcase Enterprise that will enhance the museum’s space-related exhibits and education curriculum.
For information about NASA’s transfer of space shuttles to museums, visit http://www.nasa.gov/transition.
