It was
just after 7:30 p.m. Sunday when the space shuttle Endeavor rolled into its
enormous hangar at the California Science Center and finally came to a rest
after its 12-mile journey thorough Los Angeles.
It was
also the moment Ken Carrion said he could finally breathe easy. As a project
manager for the Sarens Group, the heavy lifting firm that moved the 85-ton
orbiter to its new home, Carrion sweated every inch of the craft’s movement
through local streets.
"This
has been the most humbling and exhilarating experience in my 40 years in construction," the
65-year-old said as he stood beneath the shuttle’s nose. "Everywhere I was
it was giving me goose bumps to see the L.A. community come together."
Once the shuttle
was finally parked in the hangar, workers began the laborious task of welding
the shuttle into place. But not before Sarens crew and Science Center employees
took a few minutes to shake hands, call family and pat each other on the back.
"I'm
speechless, this is unbelievable. The last moments of its final mission have
ended,” said Luis Vides, 25, a Science Center employee.
A throng
of about 30 loyal shuttle watchers applauded as Endeavour disappeared into the
hangar. After they left, new crowds of spectators began circulating through the
park, as police worked to keep them from getting too close to the work.
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