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VIDEO: Retired space shuttle journeys along Hudson River

The space shuttle Enterprise heads for its new home aboard the former aircraft carrier Intrepid.

ONE OF NASA’S RETIRED space shuttles has been making its way along the Hudson River towards its new home at New York’s Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum on board a barge.

The shuttle fleet, which was retired from service last summer after a 30-year programme, is being donated to various educational institutions across the US. The Intrepid is a former aircraft carrier which already serves as a home for the Mercury-Atlas 7 capsule.

Enterprise was the first orbiter shuttle NASA built and was completed in 1976. But despite later plans to update and refit the shuttle, the prototype never made it into space.

(Video uploaded by AssociatedPress)

Last month saw the launch and successful return of a cargo capsule by a private company in what was the first private shipment of cargo to the International Space Station. The company, SpaceX, is one of several being assisted by NASA in an effort to win NASA contracts replacing the shuttle programme with private cargo carriers to supply the ISS.

Look up above: International Space Station visible over Ireland tonight >

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7 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Carl Gillen
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    Jun 6th 2012, 5:25 PM

    I wonder was Cpt. Sullenberger at the helm

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    Mute Ian Breslin
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    Jun 6th 2012, 5:27 PM

    Surely the bigger story here is the fact that it hit one of the bridges and got small but noticeably damaged?
    http://www.space.com/15996-space-shuttle-enterprise-barge-damage.html

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    Mute Brian Gartland
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    Jun 6th 2012, 5:32 PM

    Is it just me, or does the tail end look like something is missing ?

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    Mute Bilbo Baggins
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    Jun 6th 2012, 5:58 PM

    The parachutes?

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    Mute Paul Minogue
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    Jun 6th 2012, 6:46 PM

    As it was a prototype it didn’t have any thrusters like the others that went into space. It looks like it has a cover on it.

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    Mute Damhsa Dmf
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    Jun 6th 2012, 6:34 PM

    Video removed by user :(

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    Mute Eoin Faz
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    Jun 7th 2012, 12:55 AM

    The shuttle was launched very close to the time I was born!

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