Space Shuttle Boosters Point to the Sky for the First Time in Over a Decade

The Solid Rocket Motors standing tall at the California Science Center.

The pair of rocket boosters that lifted the iconic Space Shuttle to orbit are now standing tall at the California Science Center, awaiting the Endeavor orbiter for the full display that will showcase the launch vehicle in its vertical glory for the first time since its retirement.

The solid rocket boosters (SRBs) were stacked in their final vertical position as part of the future Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center, which is currently under construction. The two 116-foot long (35 meters) boosters, each weighing a whopping 100,000 pounds (45,360 kilograms), were gently lifted by a 450-foot tall crane (138 meters) over the partially constructed walls of the space center, according to the California Science Center.

Read more

• Formula 1 Didn't Realize Las Vegas Would Be Cold In November

• If You Bought A Tesla One Year Ago It Has Lost As Much As $40,000 In Value

• PlayStation Portal Feels Better Than It Looks

• Arkansas Sheriff Allegedly Tried To Sell 'Deleted And Tuned' Diesel Truck On Facebook: Report

• These Are The Quintessential Boomer Cars

Th next step will include the lifting of the External Tank, ET-94, followed by the intricate mating of the orbiter with the rest of the space shuttle stack.

The twin rocket boosters, donated by Northrop Grumman, trucked their way over from the Mojave Air and Space Port in October. The 15-story high reusable rocket motors served NASA’s Space Shuttle program, which ran from 1981 until 2011. They were the final elements of the space shuttle system to arrive at the California Science Center.

Once fully stacked, the 20-story-tall vertical display will be the only “ready-for-launch” Space Shuttle system in the world in terms of its staging and appearance.

The display will include the Endeavor orbiter, which embarked on its first mission with the Space Shuttle program in 1992, the rocket’s solid boosters, and external tank. Endeavor has been on display at the California Science Center for the past 11 years, although it was laying on its side rather than being in a go-for-launch position.

For more spaceflight in your life, follow us on X (formerly Twitter) and bookmark Gizmodo’s dedicated Spaceflight page.

More from Gizmodo

• The 25 best cover songs of all time, ranked

• Mario Movie Coming To Streaming Service You Actually Have

• Here's Why Trucks Slide Into The Water At Boat Ramps

• F1's Sky-High Vegas Ticket Prices Cratering As Race Approaches

• These Are The Best Winter Tires According To Consumer Reports

Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Click here to read the full article.