Long Space Shuttle Fuel Tank ET-94 Arrives in Los Angeles

ET-94 – the huge, empty, NASA fuel tank – finally reached the California Science Center in Exposition Park on Saturday.

The shifting of the tank started around 12:30 a.m. PT early Saturday at Fisherman’s Village in Marina del Rey. Spectators had lined the streets to watch the huge tank making its way from Marina del Rey to Science Center. The tank slowly moved through 16 miles of surface streets in Los Angeles and Inglewood and took about 18 hours to reach the Science Center.

This 154 feet long tank was actually built as a sister tank for the space shuttle Columbia, but it was never used. After Columbia’s disastrous return from space in 2003, ET-94 was used to investigate the reasons for disaster. Investigators removed many pieces of foam from the tank, and now it will require some restoration before it is exhibited at the California Science Center, according to the museum.

The tank – donated by NASA – weighs 65,000 lb (29,500 kg), and is longer than the Statue of Liberty (from torch to the feet). The tank took one month to complete its journey from New Orleans and traveled a distance of 7,081 km before arriving at Marine del Rey.

“It’s been a very smooth ride,” said Science Center spokeswoman Shell Amega.

“This is huge…this is a huge tank,” said Muchaka Zukinta, of Bellflower.

“I didn’t think it was that big, but it’s bigger than I thought it was.”

At the California Science Center, the tank will be placed in an upright display in the north side of the Samuel Oschin Space Shuttle Endeavour Pavilion, where there will be a viewing area. Its final home will be the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center, which is expected to be completed in about three years. For the final exhibition, the tank will be joined with Endeavour. It will be rotated to be placed in launch configuration.

“It’s one of those must-see things,” said Bakersfield resident Linda Lowry. “You have to do it.”

Endeavour was brought to Science Center in 2012, and attracted an estimated 1.5 million spectators during its trip through the streets of Los Angeles.