Officials name Chabot Space & Science Center a Bay Area Viewing Site for Shuttle Endeavour Flyover

OAKLAND, Calif., Sept. 19, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Chabot Space & Science Center is celebrating the Endeavour Shuttle Bay Area flyover with an early opening and a breathtaking vantage point to watch the low flying Transport. The Center will open to the public on Friday, September 21 at 8 am. The Endeavour is expected to fly over the East Bay between 8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

Chabot Space & Science Center is located in the East Bay/Oakland Hills with a considerable view of the Bay Area and has been recommended by NASA officials as one of the Bay Area sites to view the shuttle transport. The Endeavor will be flying at a low altitude, at about 1,500 feet according to officials, and weather permitting; the five story space shuttle will be hard to miss from the Observatory Deck at Chabot.

The Endeavour, named after Captain Cook's ship of discovery, was authorized by Congress in 1987 to replace the Challenger, which was lost in the tragic launch accident in 1986. Over its flight career – 25 missions in 20 years – Endeavour flew 122,853,151 miles and spent 299 days in space.  

Traveling on top of NASA's Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA), the Endeavour is planning to leave Florida's Kennedy Space Center on Wednesday morning to make its final flight across the United States enroute to a permanent home at the California Science Center in Los Angeles. The Endeavour will make a stop in Houston, and is planning to fly over several areas in California including Sacramento, Oakland, and San Francisco. 

Starting at 8 a.m., the Center will feature hands-on astronaut training fun, space activities, and a viewing party – pajamas are optional.  The Center's cafe will be open, serving hot chocolate and coffee.

The viewing party and activities are included with the price of admission. Tickets will be available at the door, but advance reservations are encouraged. Tickets can be purchased online at www.chabotspace.org or by calling (510) 336-7373. Admission price to the Center is $15.95 for adults and $11.95 for youth (ages 3-12).

Weather Conditions may change the shuttle's flight schedule over the Bay Area.  

SOURCE Chabot Space & Science Center