Last shuttle makes final journey to retirement
Source: Agencies |
November 4, 2012, Sunday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
ACCOMPANIED by a fleet of astronauts spanning NASA's entire existence, Atlantis made a slow, solemn journey to retirement Friday, the last space shuttle to orbit the world and the last to leave NASA's nest.
Atlantis reached its new home at the Kennedy Space Center's main tourist stop close to sundown, after a one-way road trip that spanned nearly 12 hours.
A couple dozen astronauts spanning NASA's Mercury, Gemini, Apollo and space shuttle programs - moonwalkers included - welcomed Atlantis to its new US$100 million exhibit, still under construction. The hardier ones walked alongside the spaceship for the home stretch.
Among the big astronaut names: Mercury's Scott Carpenter, Apollo 11's Buzz Aldrin and Eileen Collins, the first female shuttle commander.
It was a day full of fanfare and farewells.
Atlantis began the 16-kilometer trek just before dawn, emerging from the massive Vehicle Assembly Building and riding atop a 76-wheeled platform.
About 200 workers gathered in the early morning chill to see the spaceship out in the open for the final time. They were joined by the four astronauts who closed out the shuttle program aboard Atlantis more than a year ago.
"My opinion is it looks better vertically," said Christopher Ferguson, the commander of Atlantis' final flight.
"It's a short trip. It's taking a day," he added. "It traveled a lot faster in its former life. But that's OK... it's got a new role."
Atlantis reached its new home at the Kennedy Space Center's main tourist stop close to sundown, after a one-way road trip that spanned nearly 12 hours.
A couple dozen astronauts spanning NASA's Mercury, Gemini, Apollo and space shuttle programs - moonwalkers included - welcomed Atlantis to its new US$100 million exhibit, still under construction. The hardier ones walked alongside the spaceship for the home stretch.
Among the big astronaut names: Mercury's Scott Carpenter, Apollo 11's Buzz Aldrin and Eileen Collins, the first female shuttle commander.
It was a day full of fanfare and farewells.
Atlantis began the 16-kilometer trek just before dawn, emerging from the massive Vehicle Assembly Building and riding atop a 76-wheeled platform.
About 200 workers gathered in the early morning chill to see the spaceship out in the open for the final time. They were joined by the four astronauts who closed out the shuttle program aboard Atlantis more than a year ago.
"My opinion is it looks better vertically," said Christopher Ferguson, the commander of Atlantis' final flight.
"It's a short trip. It's taking a day," he added. "It traveled a lot faster in its former life. But that's OK... it's got a new role."
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 娌狪CP璇侊細娌狪CP澶05050403鍙-1
- |
- 浜掕仈缃戞柊闂讳俊鎭湇鍔¤鍙瘉锛31120180004
- |
- 缃戠粶瑙嗗惉璁稿彲璇侊細0909346
- |
- 骞挎挱鐢佃鑺傜洰鍒朵綔璁稿彲璇侊細娌瓧绗354鍙
- |
- 澧炲肩數淇′笟鍔＄粡钀ヨ鍙瘉锛氭勃B2-20120012
Copyright 漏 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
