After landing at Los Angeles International Airport earlier this month, Space Shuttle Endeavour’s final journey will be closer to the daily commute for thousands of Angelenos—a slow crawl through the streets of Los Angeles.
Starting in the early morning hours of Oct. 13, the shuttle will be transported at about 2mph from LAX to California Science Center in Exposition Park on a two-day trip covering 12 miles of surface streets. Weighing 85 tons and standing at almost five-stories tall, the 122-foot long shuttle relocation is a major logistical challenge for planners.
Nearly 400 trees were cut down on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in South Los Angeles to accommodate the move and steel-plate reinforcements cover streets that cannot take the heavy load. Utilities will be stopped and restored along the route as the shuttle continues on its path.
In some narrow areas along the route, the shuttle will also come within inches of nearby buildings on Cresnshaw Drive and remaining tress on Martin Luther King Blvd.
Officials are limiting and closing sidewalk access along the route, but there will be several opportunities to view the shuttle.
Endeavour is expected to leave its LAX hanger sometime after midnight on on Friday and will continue down Westchester Parkway until it stops at approximately 4am at a parking lot on La Tijera Parkway. There should be viewing opportunities there until the shuttle departs at around 2pm Friday.
However, the best viewing opportunities are expect Saturday when the shuttle is will pass Inglewood City Hall at approximately 8am. Also, starting at 8am, a public event will be held at the Forum, where the shuttle is scheduled to stop for 30 minutes starting at 9am. Thousands are expect and the entry line begins at 4am.
Another event is planned at approximately 2pm Saturday at the intersection of Crenshaw and Martin Luther King Jr. However, that location can only accommodate a few thousand people.
Before the shuttle reaches its final destination, at 8:30pm Saturday, four parking lots will be open to the public between Bill Roberston Land and Vermont avenue.
