Jason Daniel Shaw

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Space Shuttle External Tank in LA

MARINA DEL REY | LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA

The Space Shuttle external fuel tank (ET) was the biggest part of the shuttle assembly and carried the fuel for the main shuttle engines. This fuel consisted of liquid hydrogen and the oxidizer, liquid oxygen. Each tank was single-use and fell back to Earth once the main engines shutdown after launch. While they were never recovered, there was one that was never launched, EF-94, that made its way to Los Angeles. The fuel tank came via barge through the Panama Canal and made its way up the coast of Central America to where it finally ended up in Marina Del Rey. This is where I met up with it.

There was a party in the marina to celebrate the arrival of the fuel tank. It was scheduled to move through the streets to meet up with the Space Shuttle Endeavor that is housed at the California Science Center. In 2018, the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center will open and be the final resting place for both the Space Shuttle Endeavor and EF-94.

Have a great weekend!