WASHINGTON - It was an extraordinary sight, even for Washington - a space shuttle flying over the nation's capital atop a modified 747 on the way to its permanent new home, the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum.
Crowds gathered on the National Mall, office workers peered out windows and motorists pulled to the side of the road to catch a glimpse of the retired Discovery orbiter, which made a sweep of the capital region before landing at Dulles International Airport in northern Virginia.
At the U.S. Capitol, Adrienne Watson, an aide to Rep. Loretta Sanchez, D-Calif., said a cheer arose from the congressional staffers who ran outside to see it.
"Folks were pretty excited. It was a pretty special moment and a great show," she said.
It was such an event that the Mid-Atlantic AAA issued a warning to motorists: "Don't let anyone or anything - even a space shuttle overhead - distract you" and "For safe shuttle-spotting, pull off the road and park your car."
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Flyovers are also planned for New York next week and perhaps Los Angeles next fall before those cities receive their shuttles.
The test shuttle Enterprise flew into the Washington area atop a plane in 1985 for delivery to the Smithsonian. The Enterprise now will be flown to Kennedy International Airport and moved by barge to the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum in Manhattan.
A splashy ceremony is planned Thursday at the Air and Space Museum annex, the Stephen F. Udvar-Hazy Center, featuring Discovery crew members and space pioneer John Glenn.
