LOS ANGELES—While 100 media personnel were waiting for Space Shuttle Endeavour to make its way to their location outside of LAX airport, the public, in the tens of thousands, were watching the event from television cameras moving along the route and from helicopter mounted cameras in the sky.
Endeavour’s arrival was dramatic; 172,000 pounds moved silently, supported by a 160-wheel electric transport system.
The call went out on Oct. 12, and at 2:20 a.m. all cameras were focused on the huge space shuttle slowly moving from the LAX access road up through McConnell Avenue and onto Westchester Parkway, straddling the concrete islands and moving along at just 1-2 miles per hour.
Endeavour proceeded to the I-405 overpass where it received a new set of “wheels” because the special electric transport system was too wide for the freeway overpass. After a pickup truck pulled Endeavour across the bridge, the electric transport carriage was reinstalled.
Endeavour made its way several miles further where it could be publicly viewed in a parking lot before leaving again at 1 p.m.
Around noon, many hopeful bystanders were moving from one intersection to another, trying to find the best viewpoints. Several adjacent homeowners could be seen dragging their ladders out to get a better view from their rooftops. Office buildings were filled with bystanders, and several churches along the route also accommodated their parishioners.
There was a sense of excitement and even envy when many of the police, utility company employees, and other support personnel pulled out their cameras and started taking photos to the west.
Because of large buildings along the route, many could not see anything. “It’s taking forever!” shouted a bystander.
Finally, the nose of Endeavour inched into view—that is when pure awe manifested. The children suddenly became ecstatic, jumping, screaming, and pointing. Adults were trying to hold their children and grandchildren back while dodging people and trying to get to the front, taking pictures at the same time.
Despite the confusion, no one seemed disappointed and no one complained.
