Why does this make us want to do the Evil Laugh? Anyway, the Space Shuttle Enterprise is ours, all ours. Earlier today, NASA officials signed the giant hunk of space machinery over to to the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. more ›

A 15-year-old girl jumped into the Hudson River near the USS Intrepid in Hell's Kitchen on Sunday and was quickly rescued by an unidentified man who leaped in after her—proof, once again, that Good Samaritans do exist in this city. more ›

While Veterans Day honored all those who served the US military, let us not forget those who have fought in the trenches of the international liquor wars. At the Intrepid Museum's holiday ceremony yesterday, a Times reporter noticed that a 440-foot yacht docked upriver was stealing the show. It's "the first private vessel to moor at the city-owned passenger terminal, where Cunard ocean liners frequently put in" and pays $2,000 a day to do so. Who owns the yacht? Yuri Shefler, the head of the SPI Group that makes Stolichnaya. Let's see you make it to San Tropez before happy hour, Svedka robot. Bot or Not, indeed. more ›

Tomorrow NASA will finally be announcing who will receive their retiring space shuttles. The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum has been lobbying for one for a while now, and they just informed us that tomorrow they're offering free admission to anyone who wears a space-themed piece of clothing. They'll also be broadcasting "NASA’s historic announcement" on a 40-foot-wall there; that's currently scheduled to happen between 1 and 2:30 p.m. more ›

Apparently our fight for one of the retired space shuttles hadn't been going very well, despite spirited lobbying efforts. The campaign to bring a shuttle to the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum hadn't been gaining altitude, according to City Room, because of a bill limiting the contenders to sites that had a historical relationship with the shuttle program. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand may have come to the rescue, however—Gillibrand has amended the qualifications to include applicants that had been involved in “the retrieval of NASA manned space vehicles." And with that, New York back in the game! The Intrepid used to pick astronauts out of the sea after they'd land there in their space capsules. more ›

Is a space shuttle on its way to NYC? After much rallying to get a retired space shuttle on deck of the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space museum, it may actually be happening. The Daily News reports that Senator Chuck Schumer believes the city will win one of the shuttles from NASA. Allegedly a few sources have told him that the Intrepid is ahead in the game of landing one, and he said yesterday, "I believe we are in good shape. It's not a done deal, but the arguments we have made about why the shuttle belongs in New York are resonating." more ›

If you see some fighter jets over the west side of Manhattan, don't freak out: WABC 7 reports, "On Aug. 23 from 3-4 p.m., Two F-16s from the United States Aerial Demonstration Team, The Thunderbirds, will be making multiple practice flights over the Intrepid for flyover preparation the following day. On Aug. 24 at 10:35 a.m., ...The Thunderbirds will conduct a six-ship flyover of the Intrepid to commence the official start of Air Force Week. The team will be flying in an FAA approved holding pattern from 10:15 a.m. until the flyover." And then on Wednesday, August 25, a HH-60 Pavehawk will land on the the Intrepid around 11 a.m. more ›

The USS Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum will go where the Empire State Building fears to tread on August 26th, lighting up blue and white in honor of Mother Teresa's 100th birthday. The museum's executive director, Susan Marenoff, told the Post, "We'd be thrilled to represent what Mother Teresa has done in terms of public service. We are the essence of public service. We give back every day." However, she had no harsh words for Empire State Building owner Andrew Malkin, who says the building doesn't honor religious figures with its lights. "Every venue has the right to decide what is appropriate for them. I think it is appropriate and very relevant for us." more ›

Turns out Bill White, who abruptly quit as president of the Intrepid Sea Air & Space Museum yesterday, has been under investigation in Attorney General Andrew Cuomo's state pension-fund probe. White had been at the museum for 20 years, and said stepping down wasn't an easy decision, but gave no details as to why he was leaving. more ›

After 20 years as president of the Intrepid Sea Air & Space Museum, this morning Bill White resigned without warning for reasons the NY Times reports were not clear. His departure means he's also leaving his positions at two charitable organizations that raise money for inured servicemen, the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund and the Intrepid Relief Fund. In a statement, White said: “These are institutions to which I have dedicated the last 20 years... This has not been an easy decision for me, but I feel the time has come for me to pursue new challenges with similar goals.” The Wall Street Journal points out his resignation comes days before the start of Fleet Week, the Intrepid's biggest event of the year. Let's hope his departure doesn't stop us from getting a space shuttle! more ›

The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum took its rally for a space shuttle underground today, to the shuttle train out of Grand Central. Gov. Paterson, Borough Presidents Scott Stringer (Manhattan) and Marty Markowitz (Brooklyn), Intrepid Museum President Bill White and a lot of space shuttle enthusiasts gathered to ask NASA to gift us one of their retired space shuttles (you can sign the petition here). How can they say no to that face? more ›

The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum's campaign for a space shuttle is still going strong! And tomorrow, you can join them in solidarity. They're "inviting New Yorkers to publicly show their passion for space exploration. Please join us—dressed up as your favorite space themed character—as we ride the S train shuttle from Grand Central Terminal to Times Square." Can't argue with their fervor, a retired space shuttle would be a lot cooler than the subway shuttle. more ›

There's more rallying around bringing a space shuttle to NYC. The Intrepid is still waiting it out to see if they'll be delivered one of the three space shuttles from NASA next year—up for grabs are the Endeavour, Atlantis and Discovery. The Daily News talked to one local, 47-year-old Mike Massimino—an astronaut himself! He told the paper, "I would love to see one there. I think that would be a great place for it. A lot of people live in New York, and a lot of people visit New York, so that's a pretty good argument." While the big delivery wouldn't be made til next year, NASA says they are close to deciding if one will be coming our way. You can help out by signing the museum's petition, which has already been signed by nearly 50,000. more ›

Last year the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, along with around 20 other institutions, requested that NASA gift them a space shuttle—after they had announced they would be decommissioning the Endeavor, Atlantis and Discovery. Now that it's nearly decision making time, state officials are lobbying for the donation... as soon as this weather clears up, that is. more ›

The folks at the Intrepid just sent us over some real-time photos of the Sea, Air & Space Museum's flight deck being blanketed in snow. That won't stop them from staying open, however—they're in the midst of Kids Week, so any parents willing to brave the snow, check out their list of activities (today's theme is Broadway). And for everyone else, if you get any cool shots of the snow where you are, send 'em our way (or tag them "Gothamist" on Flickr). more ›

Hopefully Linus knows his way to the Intrepid, because there is a Great Pumpkin on deck right now. Sculptor Patrick Moser, who has multiple sclerosis and cannot use his right arm, will spend nearly five days transforming a 932-pound pumpkin into what he calls a “Grumpkin.” He scooped out the insides yesterday, and today through Friday the public is welcome to drop by, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and see him work on the carving. It will also be on display over the weekend. Can't wait to see it all lit up! Wonder how many candles that will take. more ›

The Triathalon spirit seems to be spreading all over town this weekend. A 65-year-old man had to be pulled out of the Hudson last night after he dove in and attempted to swim out onto the Intrepid. He made it 50 feet off of shore before firefighters caught up with him and assisted him onto a ladder leading to a rescue boat. An FDNY source told the News, "He felt like he had to go and touch the Intrepid, so instead of paying for admission and going on board, he decided to jump in the water. He was intoxicated. ... You could smell it." The man was taken to Roosevelt Hospital for observation and treatment for minor injuries. Where will the Dutchman's celebratory Quadricentennial festivities lead next?? more ›

The USS Growler was officially welcomed back to the Intrepid last week following two years of renovations. (Last year we saw it on the move, twice.) NY Post editor, Growler enthusiast and "Cold War veteran of the Submarine Service" Bob McManus reports back, and gives a little Memorial Day history lesson on the submarine that played a role in winning the Cold War, noting that, "All Moscow really knew of Growler and her sister ships back then was that one or another was always somewhere close by, armed with nuclear-tipped missiles and thus posing an existential threat to the Soviet Union itself." The sub was commissioned in 1958 and decommissioned by 1964. After a stay at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Washington it was finally brought to Manhattan in 1988. Learn more here. more ›

Yesterday's Parade of Ships help begin the 22nd annual Fleet Week celebrations. Today's events include viewing of ships at Pier 45 in Manhattan and the Stapleton Pier in Staten Island, USMC/Air Ground airborne insertion/extraction of helicopters with combat Marines in Coney Island and Marine Day—with martial arts demonstrations and military working dogs (!)—in Central Park. Plus, at the Intrepid, it's the reopening of the Growler! More details here. more ›

Count Senator Charles Schumer amongst those who want the space shuttle Atlantis to retire at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. Following NASA's announcement that they will send three space shuttles to institutions around the country, the Intrepid put their name in the hat. It's now being reported that "Schumer said Sunday he is supporting the Intrepid's bid for a space shuttle and he has appealed to Vice President Joe Biden to make it happen." If it all goes down, the shuttle would be housed in a glass enclosure at the end of Pier 86 around 2012. more ›

Could the space shuttle Atlantis land in the Hudson? The folks at the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum are crossing their fingers. The NY Times reports that they envision the shuttle, which took hold of the Hubble Space Telescope yesterday, housed in a glass enclosure at the end of Pier 86. They are just "one of 20 institutions that responded by a March 17 deadline to ask NASA about its plan to give away the last of the shuttles: Discovery, Endeavour and Atlantis." more ›