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No red light for Shuttle Explorer as it moves out of KSC Visitor Center
On a beautifully sunny Sunday the Space Shuttle model, named Explorer, that has been on display in the Kennedy Space Center visitor complex started the first steps of a move that will eventually see it residing in the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. The Shuttle Explorer move is required so that the exhibition building that will eventually house the real Space Shuttle Atlantis that closed out the Space Shuttle program when STS-135 landed on July 21st 2011.
The Shuttle Explorer was very carefully manoeuvred on top of a 18 axle transporter out of the KSC visitor centre and on to the main gated KSC site. As it wound its way out of the visitor site you can see the clearances were a bit tight slipping the wing of Explorer under the traffic signals, whilst avoiding the power lines beside the road. Further round the road the wing now slides over the security gatehouse as it crosses to the wrong side of the road and heads down the on ramp towards Kennedy Parkway N.
Photo Gallery follows…Now clear of further obstructions the convoy continues on the wrong side of the road for the four mile trip towards the huge VAB. Here the Explorer swings right up Saturn Causeway and heading off to the parking lot at the NASA Press Site. Now parked up the Explorer will remain here for a few months while it is awaiting transportation to Houston via ocean going barge.
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- No red light for Shuttle Explorer as it moves out of KSC Visitor Center
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- Shuttle Explorer negotiates the tight turn
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- Explorer’s wing just slides under the traffic signals
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- Lights passed now watch out for power lines
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- All clear, next obstacle is the security gatehouse
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- Explorer’s left wing clears the gatehouse with inches to spare.
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- Shuttle Explorer crossing to the wrong side of the road.
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- Explorer coming the wrong way down the ramp
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- Negotiating the last tight turn onto Kennedy Parkway North
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- Explorer’s wing passes overhead
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- Detail of the 18 axle trailer
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- Heading down Kennedy Parkway North towards the VAB
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- Passing the last intersection before the VAB turn
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- Passing the last intersection before the VAB turn
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- Explorer approaches the VAB
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- On Saturn Causeway passing the VAB
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- Nearly there! Explorer is now in the Press Site road
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- Explorer swung round in its temporary home for a few months
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- Explorer swung round in its temporary home for a few months
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- Shuttle Explorer sits lonely in the NASA Press Site parking lot.
