Endeavour: Deservicing and Retirement Updates

[Overflow]

Why are they reinstalling the lockers on Endeavour if no one will be allowed in it to see it? Wouldn't they want to keep the weight down?

[Jim]

Why are they reinstalling the lockers on Endeavour if no one will be allowed in it to see it? Wouldn't they want to keep the weight down?

weigh down for what? 

[wolfpack]

As far as I know, NASA tries to give the museums what they ask for. NASM was particular about what it wanted for OV-103, so perhaps California Science Center asked for a complete or nearly complete mid-deck?

As far as access into the crew module, I would think that is up to the museums. Would a large enough benefactor be allowed a private tour? I don't know. Certainly not the general public, since it's really too difficult to ingress/egress, there are no emergency exits, no power, no lights and no air conditioning.

[Overflow]

Why are they reinstalling the lockers on Endeavour if no one will be allowed in it to see it? Wouldn't they want to keep the weight down?

weigh down for what? 

Since Endeavour will eventually be hoisted vertical.

[Overflow]

As far as I know, NASA tries to give the museums what they ask for. NASM was particular about what it wanted for OV-103, so perhaps California Science Center asked for a complete or nearly complete mid-deck?

As far as access into the crew module, I would think that is up to the museums. Would a large enough benefactor be allowed a private tour? I don't know. Certainly not the general public, since it's really too difficult to ingress/egress, there are no emergency exits, no power, no lights and no air conditioning.

I remember reading somewhere that none of the museums are allowed to let people into the space-flown orbiters, so I doubt CSC will be letting people in Endeavour. Maybe they just want to save it's integrity as being an actual flown Space Shuttle.

I bet you're right about CSC asking for a comeplete/nearly complete mid-deck. 

[gordo]

The only rules on what they can or can't do is down to their own conservation policies.  The orbiters are not suitable for general or VIP access, but for VVIPs you would expect the CSC to make the orbiter work for them.

[ChrisGebhardt]

Why are they reinstalling the lockers on Endeavour if no one will be allowed in it to see it? Wouldn't they want to keep the weight down?

weigh down for what? 

Since Endeavour will eventually be hoisted vertical.

I fail to see what her eventual display orientation has to do with "keeping weight down."

Columbia was hoisted atop the SCA at White Sands by commercial cranes rented for the occasion when she landed at White Sands on STS-3.

If cranes, in 1982, could hoist Columbia (the heaviest of the Orbiters) while she was in post-flight/mission config (actually configured for ferry flight, but you get my meaning. She was still internally equipped with her mission payload) with all her middeck lockers installed, then cranes today can certainly hoist and orient Endeavour (the lightest of the Orbiters) when she's in museum display config with sensitive government equipment and her MPS ripped out.

[Overflow]

Why are they reinstalling the lockers on Endeavour if no one will be allowed in it to see it? Wouldn't they want to keep the weight down?

weigh down for what? 

Since Endeavour will eventually be hoisted vertical.

I fail to see what her eventual display orientation has to do with "keeping weight down."

Columbia was hoisted atop the SCA at White Sands by commercial cranes rented for the occasion when she landed at White Sands on STS-3.

If cranes, in 1982, could hoist Columbia (the heaviest of the Orbiters) while she was in post-flight/mission config (actually configured for ferry flight, but you get my meaning. She was still internally equipped with her mission payload) with all her middeck lockers installed, then cranes today can certainly hoist and orient Endeavour (the lightest of the Orbiters) when she's in museum display config with sensitive government equipment and her MPS ripped out.

You're right. My bad.

[Ronsmytheiii]

We raised the roof on Endeavour's future home!

https://twitter.com/#!/casciencecenter

[brettreds2k]

Kind of random, but I was on this site on a virtual 360 Tour of the cargo bay of Endeavour, and while looking around I move the angle down to the floor, and look whats there... a red desk phone...LOL. Just seemed odd to see that sitting on the floor of the Cargo bay!! HAHA

http://nasatech.net/TREndeavourBayEntrance120406/

[Overflow]

We raised the roof on Endeavour's future home!

https://twitter.com/#!/casciencecenter

Nice! Glad to see CSC is getting started.

[Ronsmytheiii]

Payload bay doors closing for the last time, the only orbiter that will have their bay doors open ever again will be Atlantis at the KSCVC

https://twitter.com/#!/NASAKennedy

[brettreds2k]

Very sad day indeed

[collectSPACE]

Payload bay doors closing for the last time, the only orbiter that will have their bay doors open ever again will be Atlantis at the KSCVC

That may not be a true statement. Stay tuned.

[brettreds2k]

If they display her vertical in launch format, I hope they don't ruin it by having her bay doors open