Is the space shuttle in Houston real?

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It was built by Guard-Lee in Apopka, Florida, installed at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in 1993, and moved to Space Center Houston in 2012….Space Shuttle Independence.

Space Shuttle replica Explorer (now Independence) at Kennedy Space Center, Florida
Country	United States
Status	On display at Space Center Houston

Which space shuttle is on display in Houston?

Independence Plaza presented by Boeing is an international landmark, offering an experience like nothing else in the world. Visitors can enter the shuttle replica Independence, mounted on top of the historic and original NASA 905 shuttle carrier aircraft, and then explore the giant plane.

What is building 9 at the Johnson space Center?

Since 1980, every NASA astronaut has walked the floors of Building 9, the astronaut training facility and home of the Space Vehicle Mockup Facility at NASA Johnson Space Center. International Space Station modules help astronauts become familiarized with the space station in preparation for their mission.

Why isn’t there a space shuttle in Houston?

I was astonished. I was appalled to read that Charles Bolden, NASA’s inspector general, made the decision to not award space shuttle Atlantis to Houston. As I understand things, instead of the shuttle, for Houston’s decades of being the home for NASA and the astronauts, Houston was offered a space chair.

How long does it take to tour Space Center Houston?

The NASA Tram Tour, which takes you to NASA Johnson Space Center, takes 60 to 90 minutes. Time spent inside Space Center Houston depends on whether your group views any large-screen films or live shows. Three to five hours is usually sufficient, however, we invite you to stay as long as you like!

How long does it take to tour Houston Space Center?

What is the purpose of the Space Vehicle Mockup Facility?

The mission of the Space Vehicle Mockup Facility (SVMF) is to provide world class training for space flight crews and their support personnel and high-fidelity hardware for real-time mission support.

What happens to the space shuttles external fuel tank?

The tank is the only component of the Space Shuttle that is not reused. Approximately 8.5 minutes into the flight, with its propellant used, the tank is jettisoned. At liftoff, the External Tank absorbs the total (7.8 million pounds) thrust loads of the three main engines and the two solid rocket motors.

Did space shuttle independence ever fly?

Today, the Space Shuttle Independence is on permanent display at the Space Center Houston in Houston, Texas. The Independence now sits atop a modified Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, just as the space shuttles did when they flew back to Florida after each successful flight, in Independence Plaza.

How much does it cost to visit NASA Houston?

Ticket	Price
Child (ages 3 & younger)	Free
Kid (ages 4-11)	$24.95
Adult (ages 12 & older)	$29.95
Senior (ages 65 & older)	$27.95

Where is the space vehicle mockup facility in Houston?

Since 1980, every NASA astronaut has walked the floors of Building 9, the astronaut training facility and home of the Space Vehicle Mockup Facility at NASA Johnson Space Center. Space Center Houston visitors can visit it as part of the popular NASA Tram Tour, included with the cost of general admission.

Is there a Space Shuttle at the Houston Space Center?

Space Center Houston announced on May 2, 2013, that it had acquired NASA 905, one of NASA’s two modified Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft. The center planned to display the replica shuttle atop the SCA with interiors of both vehicles accessible to visitors.

Where is the Space Shuttle mockup in California?

It was also used to design cable harnesses for production shuttle Orbiters and to test-fit flight hardware. The mockup was abandoned in place by NASA, so the owners of the property placed it on temporary display at the Columbia Memorial Space Center in Downey, California, in July 2012.

Where is the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft in Houston?

NASA 905, the iconic Shuttle Carrier Aircraft that ferried NASA’s space shuttles to and from launch and landing sites for 35 years, will become the focus of a major new exhibit at Space Center Houston, the visitor center adjacent to NASA’s Johnson Space Center.