Visitors Will Have To Pay Extra $6 To See Enterprise Shuttle At The Intrepid
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - NASA gave away four shuttles, but only in New York will you have to pay extra to see one.
The Enterprise sits under a plastic bubble on the deck of the Intrepid Sea Air Space Museum, but to see what's inside will cost an extra $6 on top of the regular museum admission, CBS 2's Tony Aiello reported.
Museums in Florida, California and near Washington, D.C. also got shuttles from NASA but are not charging extra to see them.
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"Wish it would be free, a lot more people could enjoy it, but this is New York, anything goes!" said Donnovan Channer of Canarsie.
"Be nice if people could get in for free - they paid for it!" said tourist Brad Chelf.
The Intrepid Foundation said it doesn't receive the same level of public funding as other museums that got shuttles, Aiello reported.
Museum president Susan Marenoff-Zausner also points out that bringing Enterprise here and putting it on display cost $12 million.
"This will bring tremendous economic impact back to the city, and for what it is that we're offering, we feel it's pretty reasonable," said Marenoff-Zausner.
Aiello said he took his kids to see the Enterprise at its previous museum home near Washington, D.C.. "I have to say the viewing experience aboard the Intrepid is much better because you can get so close to the shuttle - within three feet of its nose."
"And for the first time, you can walk right under the shuttle's belly," said Aiello.
You'll have to pay to get up close and personal, and the museum is betting people will decide it's worth it.
The Intrepid is also trying to raise millions to build a permanent home for the shuttle, perhaps in a new building across the West Side Highway.
Would you pay an extra $6 to see the Enterprise? Let us know below.
