US space shuttle Enterprise floated along New York’s Hudson River and finally docked at its new floating home in a museum on Wednesday.   The prototype space shuttle rode a barge from Jersey City, New Jersey to the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum. There it will go on display atop a World War II aircraft carrier. Despite never flying in space, Enterprise holds a special place in American history, as it having been the first of NASA’s space shuttles.   Enterprise captured the hearts and minds of many by embodying the best of American creativity. The Museum expects the space shuttle to be a major attraction for years to come.

On April 12th, 2011 NASA awarded Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum space shuttle Enterprise. Since then, NASA and Intrepid have worked together to bring the shuttle to New York City.

Now, over a year later, she has safely completed a flight atop the 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, the vessel specially outfitted and responsible for safely ferrying the mated space shuttle Enterprise from Dulles to John F. Kennedy Airport on April 27, 2012, and a two day trip by barge from John F. Kennedy Airport, to Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum.

On Tuesday, June 6th, shuttle Enterprise completed the second leg of her river ride, departing Weeks Marine in New Jersey and sailing north on the Hudson River. Along the way, the shuttle passed other American icons like the Statue of Liberty, the Freedom Tower, Empire State Building, and of course the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. Weather and tidal conditions were favorable allowing Enterprise to arrive home ahead of schedule.

Once safely moored to the craning barge, crews began the tedious task of lifting Enterprisefrom water level on to the flight deck of the former USS Intrepid. Although it was a slow and steady process, space shuttle Enterprise safely touched down on the flight deck of Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, on schedule, at around 4:30pm.  Intrepid’s Space Shuttle Pavilion, including Enterprise, will open to the public on July 19th.

Source and photo: Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum