NASA's Enterprise Lands in New York City

Some exciting things happened today in New York City, as the Enterprise, a prototype for space shuttles flew over the area, piggybacked on a special 747 jet and landed at Kennedy International Airport. Arriving from Washington's Dulles Airport, the shuttle weighs 150,000 pounds. Groups of folks gathered to watch it soar over New York Harbor, past the Statue of Liberty and up the Hudson River.

This special flight will be the Enterprise's last time in the sky. It never flew in space, but the prototype is going to be used for the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. NASA decided to award the museum the Enterprise last year when it was giving away all the orbiters left after the shuttle program ended. Having the Enterprise delivered cost the Intrepid Museum about $9 million. We bet your family's pizza delivery never cost that much!

The Enterprise will be unpacked from the 747 by cranes (NASA calls this process 'demating') and loaded onto a barge to float from the airport to the Intrepid. The Intrepid is a retired aircraft carrier which is docked permanently in the Hudson River in Midtown Manhattan. For more about this exciting NASA adventure, visit here.