{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2022}} {{short description|Space Shuttle replica}} {{DISPLAYTITLE:Space Shuttle ''Independence''}} {{Redirect|Space Shuttle Explorer|the cancelled suborbital tourist spaceplane|Explorer (space plane)|the fictional orbiter ''Explorer'' in the 2013 film|Gravity (2013 film)|the fictional orbiter ''Independence'' in the 1998 film|Armageddon (1998 film)}} {{Infobox Space Shuttle | name =Independence | image =Space Shuttle Independence.jpg | caption =Shuttle ''Independence'' and NASA 905 in Independence Plaza at Space Center Houston | country ={{USA}} | contract =Guard-Lee | named_after= | status =On display at Space Center Houston }} '''Space Shuttle ''Independence''''', formerly known as '''''Explorer''''', is a full-scale, high-fidelity replica of the Space Shuttle orbiter. It was built by Guard-Lee in Apopka, Florida, installed at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in 1993, and moved to Space Center Houston in 2012. It was built using schematics, blueprints and archival documents provided by NASA and by shuttle contractors such as Rockwell International. While many of the features on the replica are simulated, some parts, including the landing gear's Michelin tires, have been used in the Space Shuttle program.<ref name="collect20120524"/> The model is {{convert|122.7|ft|abbr=on}} long, {{convert|54|ft|abbr=on}} high, has a {{convert|78|ft|abbr=on}} wingspan,<ref name="unitoday20120524"/> and weighs {{convert|171860|lb|abbr=on}}.<ref name="insider20140815"/>
==Kennedy Space Center== [[File:Space Shuttle Explorer.jpg|thumb|Space Shuttle replica ''Explorer'' at Kennedy Space Center, Florida]] ''Explorer'' was displayed at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex atop concrete pilings and secured with steel cabling. Visitor access was provided by a gantry-style tower with ramps and an elevator for accessibility. Inside, visitors could view a mock-up payload, a mannequin wearing an early model of the orange launch/entry pressure suit used by shuttle astronauts, and a mock cockpit with controls and instruments. Adjacent to ''Explorer'' were two solid rocket boosters mated to a full-size mock-up of an external tank (originally used by Stennis Space Center for fit tests).<ref name="collect20111129"/><ref name="nasa20000914"/>
==Space Center Houston== [[File:Shuttle Explorer, Afloat (crop).jpg|thumb|Tugboats take ''Explorer'' into Clear Lake from Galveston Bay.]] thumb|''Independence'' on display at Space Center Houston Because Kennedy Space Center was to receive the retired ''Atlantis'', Space Shuttle ''Explorer'' was removed from the KSC Visitor Center on December 11, 2011, and relocated to the Vehicle Assembly Building's turn basin dock adjacent to the Launch Complex 39 Press Site.<ref name="collect20111211"/> The move was performed by Beyel Bros. using a 144-wheel trailer towed by truck.<ref name="nasa20111216"/> To accommodate the shuttle, several light poles and street signage along the route were taken down, and the shuttle itself was lifted by hydraulic jacks over a KSC guardhouse.<ref name="collect20111211"/><ref name="nasa20111216"/>
The vehicle remained at the turn basin until May 24, 2012, when it began its move by barge to the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center outside Houston, Texas.<ref name="collect20120524"/> The replica shuttle was stripped of the name ''Explorer'' as part of the dismantling process.<ref name="collect20130920"/>
Upon arriving in the Houston area by barge on June 1, 2012, guided by the Presiding Officer of the Houston Pilots Robert Thompson, the shuttle was taken to the Johnson Space Center dock on Clear Lake, and preparations were made to move the shuttle to Space Center Houston during the early morning hours. As with Florida, several light poles along NASA Parkway were taken down and trees trimmed back to allow passage. The shuttle was moved by another 144-wheel trailer down the closed highway to the visitor center.<ref name="space20120603"/>
Johnson Space Center hosted a celebration for the arrival of the replica. "Shuttlebration" events began on June 1, at the southeast corner of Clear Lake by the Nassau Bay Hilton Hotel. The festivities included the arrival of the shuttle at the dock and its move onto visitor center grounds. This was the largest item to arrive at the JSC dock since a Saturn V arrived for display in 1977.<ref name="spacecenter"/><ref name="mwatch20120530"/>
Space Center Houston announced on May 2, 2013, that it had acquired NASA 905, one of NASA's two modified Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft. The center planned to display the replica shuttle atop the SCA with interiors of both vehicles accessible to visitors.<ref name="collect20130502"/> A competition to name the shuttle opened on July 4, 2013, and concluded on September 2, 2013, with over 10,000 entries received.<ref name="collect20130920"/><ref name="ktrk20131005"/> The winning entry was submitted by Timothy Judd, and the new name, ''Independence'', was revealed on October 5, 2013.<ref name="ktrk20131005" /><ref name="collect20131005"/>
''Independence'' underwent extensive renovation in 2013 and 2014 to repair damaged components and update its appearance to more closely match that of the modern shuttle fleet. Modifications include a re-skinning of the exterior, replica thermal tiles, publicly accessible mid-deck and payload bay, a glass cockpit on the flight deck, and display cases with shuttle program artifacts.<ref name="collect20140703"/>
On August 14, 2014, a heavy lift was completed to place ''Independence'' on top of NASA 905,<ref name="chron20140814"/> which had been moved to Space Center Houston from Ellington Field on April 30, 2014.<ref name="courier20140429"/> The combined exhibit, named "Independence Plaza", opened to the public on January 23, 2016,<ref name="chron20160103"/> at an estimated cost of {{US$|12 million}}.<ref name="collect20140703"/><ref name="kprc20140814"/>
==Gallery== <gallery mode="packed" heights="150"> SpaceShuttleExplorer.JPG|Shuttle mock-up ''Explorer'' at Kennedy Space Center Hughes satellite booster mockup in Shuttle Independence cargo bay (24652005131).jpg|Mock-up of an Orbus 21 kickmotor in ''Independence'', similar to one carried on STS-49 for attachment to Intelsat 603 </gallery>
==See also== {{Commons category}} * Space Shuttle ''Pathfinder'' * Space Shuttle ''Inspiration''
==References== {{Reflist |refs= <ref name="collect20120524">{{cite news |url=http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-052412a.html |title=Space shuttle replica sets sail for Houston |work=CollectSpace.com |date=May 24, 2012 |accessdate=May 25, 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="unitoday20120524">{{cite news |url=http://www.universetoday.com/95361/shuttle-replica-departs-kennedy-for-ocean-voyage-to-houston-on-a-barge-enterprise-is-next/ |title=Shuttle Replica Departs Kennedy for Ocean Voyage to Houston on a Barge – Enterprise is Next |work=Universe Today |first=Ken |last=Kremer |date=May 24, 2012 |accessdate=August 16, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name="insider20140815">{{cite news |url=http://www.spaceflightinsider.com/space-centers/johnson-space-center/independence-rises-history-atop-sca-space-center-houston/ |title=Independence rises into history atop SCA at Space Center Houston |work=Spaceflight Insider |first=Nathan |last=Moeller |date=August 15, 2014 |accessdate=August 16, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name="collect20111129">{{cite news |url=http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-112911a.html |title=NASA's Fla. visitor center clearing way for Atlantis arrival |work=CollectSpace.com |date=November 29, 2011 |accessdate=July 18, 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="nasa20000914">{{cite web |url=http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/oig/hq/audits/reports/FY00/pdfs/ig-00-044.pdf |title=Transfer of External Tank Display to Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex |work=NASA.gov |author=NASA Office of Inspector General |date=September 14, 2000 |accessdate=July 18, 2012 |id=IG-00-044 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150428000331/http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/oig/hq/audits/reports/FY00/pdfs/ig-00-044.pdf |archivedate=April 28, 2015 }}</ref>
<ref name="collect20111211">{{cite news |url=http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-121111a.html |title=Mock space shuttle moved to make way for the real thing |work=CollectSpace.com |date=December 11, 2011 |accessdate=August 16, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name="nasa20111216">{{cite news |url=http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/news/explorermove.html |title=Shuttle Model Move Shows Way for Atlantis |publisher=NASA |first=Steven |last=Siceloff |date=December 16, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112184610/http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/news/explorermove.html |archive-date=2012-01-12 |url-status=dead |access-date=October 6, 2025}}</ref>
<ref name="collect20130920">{{cite news |url=http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-092013a.html |title=Houston's space shuttle replica to get new name in public event |work=CollectSpace.com |date=September 20, 2013 |accessdate=October 6, 2013}}</ref>
<ref name="space20120603">{{cite news |url=http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-060312a.html |title=Sunday drive: Shuttle replica's road trip to Space Center Houston |work=CollectSpace.com |date=June 3, 2012 |accessdate=August 16, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name="spacecenter">{{cite web |url=http://www.spacecenter.org/shuttlebration.html |title=Shuttlebration Weekend |work=Space Center Houston |accessdate=July 18, 2012 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120625111542/http://www.spacecenter.org/shuttlebration.html |archivedate=June 25, 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="mwatch20120530">{{cite press release |url=http://www.marketwatch.com/story/nasa-joins-community-in-shuttlebration-weekend-celebration-2012-05-30 |title=NASA Joins Community In Shuttlebration Weekend Celebration |publisher=PRNewswire |agency=NASA |via=MarketWatch.com |date=May 30, 2012 |accessdate=July 18, 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="collect20130502">{{cite news |url=http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-050213b.html |title=Houston museum to top historic NASA jet with mock space shuttle |work=CollectSpace.com |date=May 2, 2013 |accessdate=August 16, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name="ktrk20131005">{{cite news |url=http://abc13.com/archive/9275741/ |title=Space Center Houston unveils official name of Space Shuttle replica as 'Independence' |publisher=KTRK-TV |agency=Associated Press |date=October 5, 2013 |accessdate=August 15, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name="collect20131005">{{cite news |url=http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-100513a.html |title=Houston's space shuttle replica christened 'Independence' |work=CollectSpace.com |date=October 5, 2013 |accessdate=October 6, 2013}}</ref>
<ref name="collect20140703">{{cite news |url=http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-070314a-inside-space-shuttle-independence.html |title=Exclusive! Inside Independence: First look at Houston space shuttle's new cockpit |work=CollectSpace.com |date=July 3, 2014 |accessdate=August 16, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name="chron20140814">{{cite news |url=http://www.chron.com/news/nation-world/article/Shuttle-replica-makes-final-landing-atop-747-5688387.php |title=Shuttle replica makes final landing atop 747 at Space Center Houston |work=Houston Chronicle |first=Harvey |last=Rice |date=August 14, 2014 |accessdate=August 15, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name="courier20140429">{{cite news |url=http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/courier/news/space-shuttle-carrier-to-be-museum-piece/article_080b8f76-9b01-5bb6-8504-eb6386d65dbc.html |title=Space Shuttle Carrier to be Museum Piece |work=The Courier |agency=Associated Press |date=April 28, 2014 |accessdate=August 15, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name="chron20160103">{{cite news |url=http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/New-Space-Center-exhibit-revives-the-spirit-of-6734563.php |title=New Space Center exhibit revives the spirit of shuttle program |work=Houston Chronicle |first=Mihir |last=Zaveri |date=January 3, 2016 |accessdate=January 16, 2016}}</ref>
<ref name="kprc20140814">{{cite news |url=http://www.click2houston.com/news/shuttle-independence-replica-to-be-placed-atop-space-center-houston-carrier/27472462 |title=Shuttle Independence replica placed atop Space Center Houston carrier |publisher=KPRC-TV |first1=Ryan |last1=Korsgard |first2=Matt |last2=Aufdenspring |date=August 14, 2014 |accessdate=August 16, 2014 |archive-date=August 16, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140816043818/http://www.click2houston.com/news/shuttle-independence-replica-to-be-placed-atop-space-center-houston-carrier/27472462 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
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{{Space Shuttle}}
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Independence Category:Tourist attractions in Houston Independence, Space Shuttle