The space shuttle Endeavour (OV-105) may have been declared as retired but it still continues to enrich various space programs, particularly those related to the International Space Station (ISS) missions.
The engineers of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) are currently working to extract four tanks from the Endeavour so that it can be used as a container for potable water at the massive space research center.
The tanks from the space shuttle, measures approximately three feet by one foot and weigh about 40 pounds if empty. These shuttle hardware materials are situated in the deep parts of the orbiter, making no difference in the apparent appearance of the shuttle even if removed.
Patrons flocked to the California Science Center to witness the keen inspection and gentle removal of the tanks by the NASA engineers. Among the spectators during the event was Mark Kelly, a former astronaut of the space agency, said Jeff Rudolph, the president of the Science Center, on Wednesday, Aug 19.
The Endeavour space shuttle was placed in the said museum three years ago. According to Rudolph, the officials of the science center did not expect that NASA will eventually request for the shuttle parts after the spacecraft was placed on display. "It wasn't part of the deal," he said. Nonetheless, he said that the museum is always glad to collaborate with NASA. Removing parts of a retired spacecraft so that it can be put to use in space research missions is something that they regard as a great idea.
Endeavour embarked on a space mission from 1992 to 2011. The said space shuttle is the most integrated emphasis of a grounded shuttle that has been put on display. According to the NASA website, Endeavour used up some of the spare parts from the Discovery (OV-103) and Atlantis (OV-104), which were originally built to serve as tools for repair should an orbiter need it. Still, the space shuttle also exhibited a new hardware, which is designed to enhance and widen orbiter capabilities.
In May 2015, the water tanks of the shuttle Atlantis were also removed so that it can be use at the ISS in the future, says Steve Lighthill from NASA.
