The bird’s final journey

This NASA video shows the space shuttle Enterprise on its last flight on its way to be displayed at New York City's Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum. While Enterprise was the first space shuttle, it never actually flew in space, but instead helped prove that shuttles could work.

I also remember the enormous pressure that fans of Star Trek (the original series, which was the only series at the time) put on NASA to name the shuttle Enterprise. I don’t think we, er, um, they realised the first shuttle would never go to space. Still, many years later this shuttle and Star Trek would continue their relationship: A model appeared in the ready room of Captain Picard on Star Trek: Next Generation, and actual shuttle film footage was used in the opening credits for Enterprise, the last Star Trek series.

Mostly, I just love anything to do with the space programme. I hope some day it continues.