The last unflown space shuttle fuel tank, ET-94, makes its way to Los Angeles from New Orleans on board an ocean barge. The 15-story, 32.5-ton external fuel tank will remain Earth-bound as it is set to be permanently displayed at the California Science Center beside Endeavour, the retired spaced shuttle.
ET-94's voyage started early last April 10 when a crew pushed the fuel tank from the NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility onto the ocean barge.
The rust-colored space shuttle external fuel tank will cross the Panama Canal and dock in Marina del Rey before the long drive towards Los Angeles. ET-94 is scheduled to arrive at the museum next month.
Jeffrey Rudolph, president of the California Science Center, witnessed as the crew pushed the fuel tank across the Michoud property and along the Saturn Boulevard. Using remote controlled-wheels, the crew maneuvered ET-94 towards the ocean barge.
"It's really cool. This is the piece we were least sure we were going to get. The last piece of our shuttle stack. What I'm feeling good about is that it looks good out here, but people are going to be so excited about it in L.A.," said Rudolph.
Last year, NASA donated ET-94 to the museum in California. Also called a "lightweight tank," these external tanks are attached to the space shuttle's belly. But they detach and burn in the atmosphere following the lift off.
ET-94 is the last of its kind and the "sister" tank of the one used in NASA's space shuttle Columbia. On Feb. 1, 2003, the space shuttle pulled apart during its re-entry into Earth following a 16-day mission. The accident took the lives of seven astronauts.
Researchers analyzed ET-94 to study what went wrong in the Columbia incident. ET-94 was developed in NASA's Michoud facility in 2001 but remained grounded on Earth.
"It's a bittersweet day. But we're moving it over to California. That's going to open it up for millions of folks to come and take a look at it, so we're very proud of that," said Bobby Watkins, NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility Director.
The last unflown fuel tank can hold a maximum of 1.6 million pounds of liquid hydrogen as well as liquid oxygen. Capable of thrusting a space shuttle into space, ET-94 has remained Earth-bound and started its last journey towards it final "resting" place.
