Space Center Houston
marked the 38th anniversary of the first free flight of a space shuttle
(back on August 12, 1977) when Enterprise was recently released from
atop shuttle carrier aircraft NASA 905 this month.
Next, on January 23, 2016, an eight-story-tall,
multiple-exhibit complex will open to the public featuring a Space
Shuttle replica mounted on top of the aforementioned shuttle carrier
aircraft.
The Shuttle aircraft, a Boeing 747-100
registered N905NA, was originally manufactured for American Airlines
and still carried the AA livery cheatline 38 years ago when Enterprise
was released mid-air.
Interestingly the cheatline NASA chose
for 905 looks more like the old Pan American World Airways markings
than any other.
“Completing Independence Plaza
is the result of years of planning and dedication by many generous
people from the Manned Space Flight Education Foundation, NASA Johnson
Space Center, and donors throughout the country,” said Richard
E. Allen Jr., president and CEO of Space Center Houston.
Supporting Space Center Houston’s
educational mission, the exhibits also emphasize problem-solving concepts
and possible career paths in science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics.
It also honors those who designed,
built, and flew in America’s space shuttle program with recounted
stories from astronauts, engineers, and pilots.
The plaza shows the key role NASA Johnson
Space Center played in the shuttle’s development and looks to
the future at research and science happening now at NASA.
Geoffrey |
