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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