Endeavour Creeps Along 12-mile Route in Los Angeles

By ALBERT SABATÉ

Oct 12, 2012

PHOTO: Endeavour's 12-mile road trip kicked off shortly before midnight Thursday as it moved from its Los Angeles International Airport hangar en route to the California Science Center, its ultimate destination, said Benjamin Scheier of the center.

The Space Shuttle Endeavour sits before it is moved along city streets, Friday, Oct.12, 2012, in Los Angeles. Endeavour's 12-mile road trip kicked off shortly before midnight Thursday as it moved from its Los Angeles International Airport hangar en... (Mark J. Terrill/AP Photo) View Full Caption

After 25 high-stakes, rocket-propelled excursions at 175,000 mph into space, shuttle Endeavour is creeping through Los Angeles streets at 2 mph.

For two days, the retired NASA shuttle is traveling 12 miles from Los Angeles International Airport to its final resting place at the city's science museum.

Residents were thrilled to have the national treasure make its home in its city. But news that 400 trees (some more than 60 years old) would be cut down turned excitement into disgust.

Mark J. Terrill/AP Photo

The Space Shuttle Endeavour sits before it is... View Full Size

Mark J. Terrill/AP Photo

Then, after the mayor hyped "the mother of all parades," officials clamped down on security and significantly reduced public access to the shuttle route, according to the Los Angeles Times.

That won't stop Toyota from doing a little product placement. Toyota, a long-time donor to the science museum, will have a stock Tundra pickup pulling the 117,000-pound behemoth for the last leg to the museum. Here's their marketing video.

Can't get enough of the Endeavour? Check out this timelapse video the shuttle being loaded onto its trailer.