With a New Orleans jazz band playing and dozens of people waving white handkerchiefs and wishing it a good journey, the space shuttle fuel tank known as ET-94 started rolling on its daylong trip through city streets early Saturday.
The 66,000-pound tank, sitting atop dollies, left a parking lot near Fisherman’s Village in Marina del Rey. It had been sitting there since its arrival by sea barge Wednesday morning following its monthlong trip from NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, where it was built.
As it prepared to leave, guests of the California Science Center’s black-tie fundraising gala milled around the tank in tuxedos and formal dresses in the cool night air, a near-full moon overhead.
The jazz band played “When the Saints Go Marching In,” and the crowd gathered around ET-94 in a second-line march, complete with costumed dancers on stilts.
When the big orange tank started rolling at 12:08 a.m., there were cheers.
Paula Madison, a member of the California Science Center Foundation Board of Trustees, walking behind ET-94, said it was the perfect moment.
“It’s spectacular,” she said. “Look at it, against the night sky and moon and stars, and think of all the thousands of kids who are going to see this. They are going to say, ‘People made this. And so can I.’ ”
As the tank turned onto Fiji Way, the gala party was met by dozens of onlookers lining both sides of the road. They came in pajamas and on bicycles. They sprawled on the ground, snapping shots of the tank against the sky. And they posed for selfies, some holding their arms out to mimic its huge size.
Lynda Oschin, chairwoman of the Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Oschin Family Foundation, walked at the front of the crowd alongside it. ET-94 will be permanently displayed alongside the shuttle Endeavour in the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center — named after her late husband and, in her words, her hero.
Oschin could not keep the smile off her face as she watched the crowd.
“It’s the best,” she said. “I’m overwhelmed, happy. It’s a dream come true for all of us.”
Astronaut Drew Feustel, who flew on the Endeavour’s last mission in 2011, walked alongside ET-94, quietly gazing up at it. And he posed for photos with people along the route.
It was special, he said, seeing people celebrate the tank and the shuttle program. Even though the space shuttle program has ended, “We have other work we want to do,” he said. “The space shuttle did its job.”
Vivianne Robinson, 58, rode her bike from Santa Monica, where she works as a grocery store bagger. She got off work at 11 p.m. and rushed to Marina del Rey to see ET-94 start rolling.
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The ET-94 fuel tank rests outside the California Science Center on Saturday.
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High school students from Downey walk to prom as the ET-94 fuel tank rests outside the California Science Center.
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The ET-94 fuel tank is 15 stories tall.
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The ET-94 fuel tank arrives at the California Science Center.
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The ET-94 fuel tank for the Space Shuttle makes its way up Vermont to the California Science Center.
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Darren Hackett carries son Sawyer, 4, dressed as an astronaut, as the ET-94 fuel tank makes its way to the California Science Center.
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ET-94, NASA’s last remaining space shuttle external tank, travels along Arbor Vitae Street in Inglewood on its way to the California Science Center.
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Astronaut Mike Fincke shakes hands with students from Oak Tree Elementary school standing along Arbor Vitae Street to witness ET-94, NASA’s last remaining space shuttle external tank.
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ET-94, NASA’s last remaining space shuttle external tank, travels on Arbor Vitae Street in Inglewood on its way to the California Science Center on Saturday.
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Adren Turner dons an astronaut helmet made from paper as he waits to see ET-94, NASA’s last remaining space shuttle external tank, along Arbor Vitae Street in Inglewood.
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The space shuttle fuel tank ET-94 passes a man working on the wires in Inglewood. Workers occasionally dropped the electrical lines as the tank passed by.
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People welcome ET-94, NASA’s last remaining space shuttle external tank, as it travels on Arbor Vitae Street in Inglewood on its way to the California Science Center.
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The giant orange external fuel tank called ET-94 is en route to the California Science Center on Saturday.
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ET-94, NASA’s last remaining space shuttle external tank, travels through the streets of Inglewood on its way to the California Science Center.
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Kirby the dog appears to be escorting ET-94, NASA’s last remaining space shuttle external tank, which is traveling on Manchester Avenue in Inglewood on its way to the California Science Center.
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Kyle Bice, 5, and his sister Sydney Bice, 6, both of Lakewood, take a photo with astronaut Steve Swanson in Inglewood as the ET-94 space shuttle external tank travels across Los Angeles to its new museum home.
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ET-94, NASA’s last remaining space shuttle external tank, enters La Brea Avenue from Arbor Vitae Street in Inglewood on its way to the California Science Center on Saturday.
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Micro Michaels, left, and her mother Doreen Talbot take a selfie with astronaut Kay Hire with ET-94, NASA’s last remaining space shuttle external tank, in the background.
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ET-94, NASA’s last remaining space shuttle external tank, travels on Arbor Vitae Street in Inglewood on its way to the California Science Center.
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A police officer follows the ET-94 fuel tank, which makes its way on Manchester Avenue past the Forum from Marina Del Rey to the California Science Center.
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The ET-94 space shuttle fuel tank makes its way on Manchester Avenue past the Forum from Marina Del Rey to the California Science Center.
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Astronauts pose with children as ET-94, the giant orange external fuel tank, is en route to the California Science Center on Saturday.
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Bashaun Nero of Inglewood stands on a roof in Inglewood as the space shuttle fuel tank ET-94 gets ready for its final journey home.
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ET-94, NASA’s last remaining space shuttle external tank fuel tank, makes its way along Manchester Avenue past the Forum from Marina Del Rey to the California Science Center on Saturday.
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The space shuttle fuel tank moves past a mural of the Virgin of Guadalupe on La Brea Avenue in Inglewood.
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The shuttle fuel tank moves slowly on Arbor Vitae Street while overhead a passenger jet approaches LAX.
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The last shuttle fuel tank, ET-94, travels down Westchester Parkway on it’s journey to the California Science Center in Exposition Park.
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At sunrise, people watch on Westchester Parkway as the shuttle fuel tank rolls by.
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People wearing bathrobes come out Saturday morning to snap a photo of the shuttle fuel tank.
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Adren Turner waits for the shuttle fuel tank along Arbor Vitae.
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The shuttle fuel tank is maneuvered around street lights on Lincoln Boulevard.
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Space shuttle fans follow along with fuel tank ET-94 as it journeys overnight from Marina del Rey to Exposition Park.
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People watch as the shuttle fuel tank ET-94 turns onto Lincoln Boulevard.
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The last shuttle fuel tank ET-94 turns onto the onramp to get back onto Lincoln Boulevard as it journeys to its final home at the California Science Center in Exposition Park.
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Shuttle fans watch tank ET-94 as it turns onto Lincoln Boulevard in the middle of the night.
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Partygoers linger outside in Marina del Rey early Saturday morning before the last shuttle fuel tank embarks on its journey to Exposition Park.
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Space shuttle fans pose with astronauts Andrew J. Feustel, left, and Mike Fincke, center, as the last fuel tank moves along L.A. city streets to Exposition Park.
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A woman takes a picture of the last shuttle fuel tank, ET-94, alongside an almost-full moon.
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ET-94, the last space shuttle fuel tank, travels along Los Angeles city streets to the California Science Center in Exposition Park.
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Police stand by as shuttle fuel tank ET-94 makes a turn onto Mindanao Way on its slow journey to Exposition Park.
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Shuttle fans line up at Marina del Rey to see fuel tank ET-94 begin its journey along city streets to Exposition Park.
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Photographers capture the last shuttle fuel tank, ET-94, as it makes a turn onto Mindanao Way.
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Even pups get in on the action.
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A crowd forms at Marina del Rey to see the last shuttle fuel tank, ET-94, begin its journey along city streets to the California Science Center in Exposition Park.
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Utility workers remove a beam holding up a traffic signal to clear the path for the shuttle tank.
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Vivianne Robinson, 58, sports a space shuttle-themed outfit as she watches the last fuel tank on its journey to the California Science Center in Exposition Park.
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With the moon shining down, a crowd gathers around ET-94 early Saturday morning before it begins its journey to the California Science Center in Exposition Park.
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Freddy Tyson and his son Nicholas, 5, watch as the shuttle fuel tank makes its way toward Exposition Park.
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Space shuttle fans follow along with ET-94 as it journeys through Los Angeles streets to the California Science Center in Exposition Park.
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The last shuttle fuel tank, ET-94, makes its way onto Lincoln Boulevard en route to Exposition Park.
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A crowd forms at Marina Del Rey to see ET-94 as it begins its journey to Exposition Park.
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A crowd forms in Marina Del Rey to see the shuttle fuel tank begin its journey to the California Science Center in Exposition Park.
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A crowd forms at Marina Del Rey to see the last shuttle fuel tank begin its journey to the California Science Center in Exposition Park, where it will be displayed alongside the space shuttle Endeavour.
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Workers inspect a makeshift wooden ramp as shuttle fuel tank ET-94 moves across it to get back onto Lincoln Boulevard.
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Elisha Reyna takes a selfie while standing in front of ET-94.
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ET-94, NASA’s last remaining space shuttle external fuel tank, arrives in Marina del Rey.
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People gather in Marina del Rey to watch the arrival of ET-94, NASA’s last remaining space shuttle external fuel tank.
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ET-94, NASA’s last remaining space shuttle external fuel tank, arrives in Marina del Rey.
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ET-94, NASA’s last remaining space shuttle external tank, arrives in Marina del Rey prior to docking next to Fisherman’s Village in advance of the final leg of its voyage through the streets of Los Angeles to the California Science Center.
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Daniella Murray and her 1-year-old daughter, Briella Murray, get their picture taken in front of ET-94 while it sits in the Marina del Rey harbor.
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The NASA space shuttle external fuel tank known as ET-94 arrives in Marina del Rey.
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Paddleboarders watch as the space shuttle external fuel tank ET-94, the last of its kind, arrives in Marina del Rey.
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A kayaker watches as the space shuttle external fuel tank ET-94 arrives in Marina del Rey.
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The space shuttle external fuel tank ET-94 arrives in Marina del Rey, on its way to the California Science Center.
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ET-94, NASA’s last remaining space shuttle external tank, arrives in Marina del Rey early Wednesday morning.
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The space shuttle external tank E-94 arrives in Marina del Rey early Wednesday morning.
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ET-94, NASA’s last remaining space shuttle external tank, approaches Marina del Rey, pulled by a tugboat Wednesday morning.
(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) Robinson was decked out: She wore large shuttle earrings and a T-shirt depicting a shuttle launching. She sported a homemade top hat with patches from the shuttle program and American flags sticking out the top.
Sitting in the basket on her bike was an orange alien that she had painted, wearing a California flag bandanna and holding a sign she was given when she tagged along with the shuttle Endeavour as it rode through city streets in 2012. The sign said: “Proud Supporter … The Big Endeavour.”
That year, she’d gotten up at the crack of dawn to see Endeavour leave LAX. She wouldn’t have missed seeing ET-94, she said, adding that it was even more fantastic than she had imagined.
“That mankind can make something that incredible?” Robinson said, her voice trailing off as she stared up at it.
“Even though I worked all day, there was no way I was going to miss this,” she said.
Just after 1 a.m., Robinson said she had to be at Venice Beach by 9 a.m. to start working again. There, she writes people’s names on tiny pieces of rice and sells them. She might not sleep Saturday night, she said, but that’s OK. She didn’t mind showing up in her space shuttle outfit.
As the tank rolled toward Pacific Coast Highway, Robinson kept walking with it, into the dark, a huge grin on her face.
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