Historic Orbiter To Be Displayed On Deck Of USS Intrepid In NYC

NASA and the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum announced Tuesday the official transfer of title of Space Shuttle Orbiter Enterprise from NASA to the museum in New York City.

It is expected that the Enterprise will be ferried from Washington, DC to JFK International Airport aboard a 747 NASA Shuttle Carrier Aircraft in the spring of 2012. It will then be taken by barge to the Intrepid complex at Pier 86 of the Hudson River Park, and placed on the aircraft carrier's flight deck under a protective covering. The public will have the ability to see the shuttle while visiting the Intrepid.

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden says he's proud of Enterprise's new home. “The U.S.S. Intrepid had a rich history with NASA's mission, and Enterprise – the pathfinder for the Space Shuttle Program – belongs in this historic setting. Enterprise, along with the rest of our shuttle fleet, is a national treasure and it will help inspire the next generation of explorers as we begin our next chapter of space exploration.”

The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum complex includes the 900-foot-long aircraft carrier Intrepid with seven full decks and four theme halls; the guided missile submarine Growler; and an extensive collection of over 30 aircraft including the A-12 Blackbird, the fastest plane in the world, and the British Airways Concorde, the fastest commercial aircraft in the world. Guests can experience areas of the ship including the Flight Deck, Hangar Deck, fo’c’sle (commonly known as the anchor chain room), new multimedia presentations and exhibit collections, interactive educational stations and a state-of-the-art public pier.

FMI: www.intrepidmuseum.org