The US government’s weakening space exploration program put on a very public display of nostalgia here in New York Friday morning. A NASA 747 carrying the space shuttle Enterprise flew multiple turns over the five boroughs before landing at Kennedy at 11:23 AM.
It passed over LaGuardia a little after 11 AM. With regularly-scheduled commercial air traffic stopped, the craft-on-craft spectacle flew a direct line over runway 13 just a thousand feet above the ground. Hundreds of airport workers paused from their jobs and found places to catch a glimpse and take pictures with cellphones. A weaving fighter jet could be seen accompanying the shuttle/747 combo on its ride.
On June 4, a barge will carry Enterprise to the Intrepid Air and Space Museum on the Hudson River at 12th Avenue and 46th Street. It’ll cost you 30 bucks to see it there when an Enterprise exhibit opens on the ship July 19th.
The sight of the shuttle doesn’t really get my blood pumping but a lot of New Yorkers were talking about it and went out of there way to see it. For many in these parts, the shuttle is something only seen on TV. All of the local television stations interrupted regular programming to show live pictures using news copters along with high-rise and ground-based cameras. Channel 7’s Anthony Johnson covered the landing at JFK and was over-the-top giddy when he caught sight of it.
It should be noted that Enterprise never actually flew a mission in space. It was a prototype for the models that followed. It’s been a museum piece in the DC-area since 1985.
The most famous shuttle craft is probably the Discovery. It did 39 flights and completed 5830 orbits before the government formally shut down the shuttle program last year. The Discovery will park at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum. It’ll fill the gap left by the Enterprise’s move to New York.
-The NBA went too easy on Metta World Peace in handing down a seven-game ban for the dangerous full-impact elbow he planted on the head of James Harden. It was an awful sight. Harrowing. But I heard David Stern on the radio with Mike Friday afternoon and I think the commish honestly believes Ron-Ron meant no harm. Those who know Artest closely all seem to come to the same conclusion: He’s a super sweet, giving individual who is missing a screw. Stern said as much with Francesa. The danger is that Peace comes back this season or next – and loses his mind once again with graver consequences. Harden could have been killed or maimed severely. As it is now, he could be clouded going into the playoffs.
-The Knicks have zero chance in the Heat series but if by some miracle they advance, there’s a chance Jeremy Lin would be ready to play by then. Imagine that. Lin returns for what would likely be a conference semi series with the Bulls.