This isn't actually "news" news, but it's new (to me).
While in Seattle recently, I had the opportunity to tour the FFT at the Museum of Flight. It is a fantastic experience to crawl through the hatch, stand in the mid-deck, look through the airlock, climb the ladder to the flight deck, and look into the payload bay. It's smaller than I expected from pictures and videos! I couldn't picture a crew of seven on the flight deck. It's also a bit of a thrill to realize that 335 shuttle-borne astronauts trained in this space.
This old thread links to a video of the transport of the forward compartment to the museum. http://www.orbiter-forum.com/showthread.php?t=28130
Our guide (Natalie) was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic. If you are near Seattle, try to make time for this excellent tour. They allow six people at a time, for a half-hour each, but our tour had just three, and it wasn't too crowded.
While in Seattle recently, I had the opportunity to tour the FFT at the Museum of Flight. It is a fantastic experience to crawl through the hatch, stand in the mid-deck, look through the airlock, climb the ladder to the flight deck, and look into the payload bay. It's smaller than I expected from pictures and videos! I couldn't picture a crew of seven on the flight deck. It's also a bit of a thrill to realize that 335 shuttle-borne astronauts trained in this space.
This old thread links to a video of the transport of the forward compartment to the museum. http://www.orbiter-forum.com/showthread.php?t=28130
Our guide (Natalie) was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic. If you are near Seattle, try to make time for this excellent tour. They allow six people at a time, for a half-hour each, but our tour had just three, and it wasn't too crowded.
