Carla Cioffi

Photographer

NASA: Space Shuttle Retirement

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Clients: The Financial Times, Der Spiegel, NASA, Qatar Foundation, HAVAS

School: Maine Media Workshops, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale Principia College

Space shuttles Discovery and En...covery could be put on display.

Space shuttles Discovery and Enterprise are seen at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum - Udvar Hazy Center in Dulles, VA. Space shuttle Enterprise was moved from NASM to New York City so that space shuttle Discovery could be put on display.

Â Â Space ShuttleÂ Discovery
Â Â Dulles, VA

Spectators are seen as they wel...dvar Hazy Center in Dulles, VA.

Spectators are seen as they welcome space shuttle Discovery to theÂ Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum - Udvar Hazy Center in Dulles, VA.

The noses of space shuttle Ente...ery are seen facing each other.

The noses of space shuttle Enterprise, left, and space shuttle Discovery are seen facing each other.

Spectators are seen as they welcome space shuttle Discovery to theÂ Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum - Udvar Hazy Center in Dulles, VA.

A boy spots space shuttle Disco...ernational Airport in Virginia.

A boy spots space shuttle Discovery atop a Boeing 747coming in for a landing at Dulles International Airport in Virginia.

Space shuttle Discovery is seen...ernational Airport in Virginia.

Space shuttle Discovery is seen atop a Boeing 747 as it comes in for a landing at Dulles International Airport in Virginia.

Spectators are seen as they welcome space shuttle Discovery to theÂ Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum - Udvar Hazy Center in Dulles, VA.

Two brothers watch space shuttl...ernational Airport in Virginia.

Two brothers watch space shuttle Discovery atop a Boeing 747coming in for a landing at Dulles International Airport in Virginia.

Space shuttle Enterprise is see...dvar Hazy Center in Dulles, VA.

Space shuttle Enterprise is seen outside of its former hangar at theÂ Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum - Udvar Hazy Center in Dulles, VA.

Spectators are seen welcoming s...dvar Hazy Center in Dulles, VA.

Spectators are seen welcoming space shuttle Discovery to theÂ Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum - Udvar Hazy Center in Dulles, VA.

Spectators are seen as they welcome space shuttle Discovery to theÂ Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum - Udvar Hazy Center in Dulles, VA.

The Marine Corp band is seen pl...dvar Hazy Center in Dulles, VA.

The Marine Corp band is seen playing at a welcome ceremony for space shuttle Discovery atÂ theÂ Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum - Udvar Hazy Center in Dulles, VA.

Space shuttle Discovery is seen...dvar Hazy Center in Dulles, VA.

Space shuttle Discovery is seen being wheeled in to its new home atÂ theÂ Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum - Udvar Hazy Center in Dulles, VA.

Â Â Space Shuttle Endeavour

Â Â Los Angeles, CA

Space shuttle Endeavour is seen... the California Science Center.

Space shuttle Endeavour is seen leaving Los Angeles International Airport to start its 12 mile, 3-day traverse over the streets of LA to the California Science Center.

Neighbors on a residential stre...eer on space shuttle Endeavour.

Neighbors on a residential street are seen as they welcome and cheer on space shuttle Endeavour.

A man is seen on the roof of a ...ugh the streets of Los Angeles.

A man is seen on the roof of a building making photos of space shuttle Endeavour as it makes its way through the streets of Los Angeles.

Thousands of people lined the s... the California Science Center.

Thousands of people lined the streets of LA to watch space shuttle Endeavour traverse through their streets to its final destination at the California Science Center.

Engineers prepare space shuttle... the California Science Center.

Engineers prepare space shuttle Endeavour for the second day of its 3-day journey to the California Science Center.

A woman is seen high above in a...tos of Endeavour with her iPad.

A woman is seen high above in a cherry picker making photos of Endeavour with her iPad.

Thousands of people lined the streets of LA to watch space shuttle Endeavour traverse through their streets to its final destination at the California Science Center.

Space shuttle Endeavour is seen...ugh the streets of Los Angeles.

Space shuttle Endeavour is seen traversing through the streets of Los Angeles.

Thousands of people lined the streets of LA to watch space shuttle Endeavour traverse through their streets to its final destination at the California Science Center.

A policeman is seen next to spa... the California Science Center.

A policeman is seen next to space shuttle Endeavour on the first day of its 3-day journey to the California Science Center.

A couple is seen on the roof of...ugh the streets of Los Angeles.

A couple is seen on the roof of their house making photos of space shuttle Endeavour as it makes its way through the streets of Los Angeles.

Thousands of people lined the streets of LA to watch space shuttle Endeavour traverse through their streets to its final destination at the California Science Center.

An engineer maneuvres space shu...ngeles with a remote joy stick.

An engineer maneuvres space shuttle Endeavour through the streets of Los Angeles with a remote joy stick.

Space shuttle Endeavour is seen traversing through the streets of Los Angeles.

Space shuttle Endeavour is seen next to a billboard advertising the TV show Dexter as it traverses through the streets of Los Angeles.

Space shuttle Endeavour is seen passing a car wash as it traverses through the streets of Los Angeles.

Electrical wires are pulled up ... the California Science Center.

Electrical wires are pulled up so space shuttle Endeavour could continue on its way to the California Science Center.

Thousands of people lined the streets of LA to watch space shuttle Endeavour traverse through their streets to its final destination at the California Science Center.

Space shuttle Endeavour is seen...y's Donuts in Los Angeles.

Space shuttle Endeavour is seen next to Randy's Donuts in Los Angeles.

A film crew for a Toyota commer...ulling space shuttle Endeavour.

A film crew for a Toyota commercial prepares to shoot an advertisement of a Toyota pickup pulling space shuttle Endeavour.

Space shuttle Endeavour is seen traversing through the streets of Los Angeles.

The wing of space shuttle Endea... the California Science Center.

The wing of space shuttle Endeavour almost grazes the houses on its route to the California Science Center.

An engineer is seen trying to f... the California Science Center.

An engineer is seen trying to figure out how to maneuvre space shuttle Endeavour around this tree. More than 400 trees were cut down to facilitate Endeavour's journey to the California Science Center.

Neighbors on a residential street are seen as they welcome and cheer on space shuttle Endeavour.

Space shuttle Endeavour is seen...idential street in Los Angeles.

Space shuttle Endeavour is seen on a narrow residential street in Los Angeles.

Space shuttle Endeavour is seen traversing through the streets of Los Angeles.

A policeman is seen next to space shuttle Endeavour on the second evening of its 3-day journey to the California Science Center.

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Thumbnail of Space shuttles Discovery and Ent_scovery could be put on display.

Thumbnail of Spectators are seen as they welc_Udvar Hazy Center in Dulles, VA.

Thumbnail of The noses of space shuttle Enter_very are seen facing each other.

Thumbnail of A boy spots space shuttle Discov_ternational Airport in Virginia.

Thumbnail of Space shuttle Discovery is seen _ternational Airport in Virginia.

Thumbnail of Two brothers watch space shuttle_ternational Airport in Virginia.

Thumbnail of Space shuttle Enterprise is seen_Udvar Hazy Center in Dulles, VA.

Thumbnail of Spectators are seen welcoming sp_Udvar Hazy Center in Dulles, VA.

Thumbnail of The Marine Corp band is seen pla_Udvar Hazy Center in Dulles, VA.

Thumbnail of Space shuttle Discovery is seen _Udvar Hazy Center in Dulles, VA.

Thumbnail of Space shuttle Endeavour is seen _o the California Science Center.

Thumbnail of Neighbors on a residential stree_heer on space shuttle Endeavour.

Thumbnail of A man is seen on the roof of a b_ough the streets of Los Angeles.

Thumbnail of Thousands of people lined the st_t the California Science Center.

Thumbnail of Engineers prepare space shuttle _o the California Science Center.

Thumbnail of A woman is seen high above in a _otos of Endeavour with her iPad.

Thumbnail of Space shuttle Endeavour is seen _ough the streets of Los Angeles.

Thumbnail of A policeman is seen next to spac_o the California Science Center.

Thumbnail of A couple is seen on the roof of _ough the streets of Los Angeles.

Thumbnail of An engineer maneuvres space shut_Angeles with a remote joy stick.

Thumbnail of Electrical wires are pulled up s_o the California Science Center.

Thumbnail of Space shuttle Endeavour is seen _dy's Donuts in Los Angeles.

Thumbnail of A film crew for a Toyota commerc_pulling space shuttle Endeavour.

Thumbnail of The wing of space shuttle Endeav_o the California Science Center.

Thumbnail of An engineer is seen trying to fi_o the California Science Center.

Thumbnail of Space shuttle Endeavour is seen _sidential street in Los Angeles.

Public Project

NASA: Space Shuttle Retirement

Date of Work Apr 2012 - Oct 2012

Updated Nov 2017

Location Los Angeles and Washington, DC

Topics California, Documentary, Editorial, Fine Art, Historical, Los Angeles, NASA, Photography, Photojournalism, Science, Space Shuttle, Space Travel, Spaceflight, Street, Travel, Washington, DC

Summary

Images of decommissioned NASA space shuttles Discovery and Endeavour.

NASA retired its remaining space shuttle fleet in 2011, after 30 years of service. Each space shuttle was transferred to an educational institution or museum to be put on display. Space shuttle Discovery was transferred to the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum - Udvar Hazy Center in Dulles, Virginia just outside of Washington, DC in April of 2012. Space shuttle Endeavour was flown to Los Angeles later that year to make its new home at the California Science Center. Both shuttles were flown from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida atop a specially rigged Boeing 747 to their respective new homes. Endeavour traversed 12 miles snaking through the streets of Los Angeles over three days from LAX to the California Science Center.

The images in this series were made while on assignment for NASA Headquarters in Washington, DC.

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