NASA: Shuttle retirement project on track

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., March 6 (UPI) -- The U.S. space agency says it historic fleet of retired space shuttles will all be in their new, permanent display homes by the end of the year.

The shuttles Endeavour, Atlantis and Discovery were on the move recently as part of the transition and retirement activities at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the space agency said in a release Monday.

Early last month shuttle Endeavour was backed out of the Vehicle Assembly Building and towed to Orbiter Processing Facility-2. A few days later shuttle Atlantis was towed from the VAB to temporary storage while it is being prepared for public display at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in 2013.

Endeavour was moved to OPF-2 so technicians can further prepare it for display. It will be ferried to the California Science Center in Los Angeles in the fall.

Discovery will arrive at Dulles International Airport in Virginia atop a NASA Shuttle Carrier Aircraft modified 747 jet on April 17, and then be transported to the Smithsonian's Udvar-Hazy Center April 19.

Shuttle Enterprise, now on display there, will move to the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum in New York City.

"I continue to be impressed by the dedication and devotion of the team working to ensure Discovery, Atlantis, Endeavour and Enterprise are delivered to their new homes in the best possible condition," NASA Director for Orbiter Transition and Retirement Stephanie Stilson said.