Independence Plaza in Houston Texas USA

Welcome to Independence Plaza, the home of NASA 905, the piggyback plane. The exhibit features all the different stages that go into being a piggyback plane. How does an airplane carry around an 83 ton space ship? Why did NASA choose this Boeing 747-123 for the job? You will find all the answers in this NASA Museum in Houston, Texas. 

The Boeing 747-123 is a power horse, with incredible jet power. Even then, this four engine 747, former member of the American Airline fleet, had to be stripped of everything but the cockpit on the inside in order to prepare it for this massive task. 

On the top of the plane is a replica of the Shuttle Independence. It has been changed on the inside to allow better access for visitors. Within the shuttle are space artifacts of this time in history. The collection is amazing and will allow you to see the space program as living history that you are a part of. You can tour the inside and dream of the time when the space craft was carried on the back of the mighty airplane. Over the years that we had an active space program, this Boeing 747 flew 223 active missions from California to Florida with the Independence on her back. What a history these two aircrafts have built together!

The NASA 905 was only one of two aircraft used for this important job. The NASA 911 is now at home in another one of NASA's Museums, the Joe Davies Heritage Airpark in Palmdale, California. These were the only two Shuttle Carrier Aircraft ever used during NASA's 42 year long space program. 

The exhibits in this Space Museum center on learning and problem-solving concepts for future space adventures. Learn of possible career paths and all about many of the original ideas that latter made up the space technology. What an amazing exhibit!

Are you ready for a space adventure? Houston is the perfect place to explore the outer-limits of this amazing space culture. If the NASA 905 could talk, what outstanding tales would it tell? Come hear and see for yourself what it means to be apart of this prestigious program. It is time for a space adventure!