Space fans cheer shuttle tank on path to museum in Los Angeles

Space fans cheer shuttle tank on path to museum in Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES — A huge space shuttle fuel tank squeezed through the streets of Los Angeles and loomed over vehicles on a busy freeway Saturday to join the retired orbiter Endeavour on display at the California Science Center.

The shuttle was escorted by police, a fire truck and a crew of city officials as it passed through south Los Angeles taco shops, car washes and strip malls.

[...] it’s going to make us happy, astronaut Mike Fincke, who flew on the Endeavour’s final flight in 2011, told the Los Angeles Times.

“It really makes me feel that a lot of people appreciate what our space program is doing,” said Sandy Magnus, another astronaut.

Extensive preparations for Endeavour’s trek included removing trees, street posts and other obstacles.