NY 1 - June 07, 2012
by Roger ClarkThe space shuttle prototype Enterprise was firmly ensconced at its new home on the deck of the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum on Wednesday, after a final journey by sea, not air, across New York Harbor and up the Hudson River. NY1's Roger Clark filed the following report.
The space shuttle prototype Enterprise flew past the Statue of Liberty when it arrived in New York, but on Wednesday the Enterprise took a more leisurely pace, floating by the lady of the harbor, on its two-hour trip from New Jersey to its new home. Along the way, people took a look and took plenty of pictures too.
"My son is only 21 months old, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," said one onlooker. "He probably won't remember it, but I think taking these pictures with him in it. A couple of years from now, he'll really look back and enjoy it and remember the occasion."
Accompanied by the Coast Guard, the Shuttle passed the World Trade Center and received a salute from the FDNY fireboat Firefighter, thrilling New Yorkers and out of towners alike.
"It's one of America's most iconic achievements, it's a fantastic thing. We feel privileged to have seen it today," said an onlooker.
"You never forget that experience," said another.
"It was good to see it in person, it was fun. I certainly took my photos with my iPhone and emailed them to friends so I was very happy," said a third.
When the Enterprise finally made it to the USS Intrepid, even more people were able to check it out on Pier 84. Even the tugboat that pulled the barge it was on received a round of applause from onlookers.
Pretty much everybody who saw the shuttle come up the Hudson and spoke with NY1 said they could not wait to see it up-close, on the Intrepid.
"I will definitely be going to the Intrepid to see it with my family. Absolutely," said a viewer.
"It's actually exciting for it to come here and look forward once the installation is set up and complete to be able to see it up close," said another.
"I have a nine-year-old son. I will bring him from Connecticut and we will spend the whole day once we set it up there," said a third.
So it appears the Enterprise could perhaps get even more attention in its second life than when it was paving the way for the space shuttle program.
