Space Shuttle Endeavour at the California Science Center

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A two-seat A-12 trainer on a plinth outside the California Science Center.  The resting place doesn’t really fit the magnificence of this craft.  This craft would later be derived into the SR-71 of Air Force fame.  However, the supersonic reconnaissance aircraft got its start working for the CIA.

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Inside the California Science Center.

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The main attraction: The Space Shuttle Endeavour.


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Still dirty from space.

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A few tiles have been replaced but otherwise it’s still the same old ship.

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The business end.IMG_5836
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Yup, I really was hanging out with Endeavour.  This brings my total space shuttle count to two orbiters and one test scale model.  Now I have to collect them all!

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My what a nose!

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Thrusters.


IMG_5849 IMG_5850 IMG_5851I’ll never get tired of visiting space shuttles.


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The Apollo-Soyuz capsule on display.

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Such intricate hardware!

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The back side of the Apollo capsule.

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A gemini capsule.

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Heat shield patterns.

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