Calling all space-exploration enthusiasts, aerospace aficionados and other flight geeks: the Museum of Flight announced today that a vital piece of its full-scale Space Shuttle Trainer, the crew cabin section, will arrive June 30 via the NASA plane dubbed the “Super Guppy.”
Personally, we were kind of hoping that NASA would’ve come up with something more kick-ass for its space exploration delivery vehicles like: The Hammerhead! Tiger Shark! Or a Pacific NW fave, The Orca! Hell, even Penguin would’ve been better.
Anyhoo, the 28-foot-long piece will be delivered via the Super Guppy cargo plane from NASA in Houston, piloted by Seattle astronaut Greg Johnson.
It will arrive at the Museum for an 11 a.m. ceremony at the Museum after a flyover of Lake Washington and the Seattle Center. Onboard the Super Guppy flight with Johnson will be fellow astronaut Janet Kavandi.
The celebration is free and open to the public, and the Super Guppy will stay on locale in the parking lot throughout the weekend for free tours with admission to the Museum.
The space shuttle piece delivery also kicks off ShuttleFest, a week filled with aerospace delights and lectures from pilots and astronauts and other space-expert nerds that will culminate in a big dance on July 7.
And note to NASA: Please dial up some writers at Marvel before you name your next plane.
