LITTLETON, Colo. — A rocket booster that was maneuvered cautiously through the streets of Centennial, Littleton and Arapahoe County over the weekend and the beginning part of this week, is now hoisted into position along the South Platte River.
The SpaceX Falcon 9 booster rocket is 146 feet tall and is going on display at the Dish Network corporate headquarters off South Santa Fe Drive at West Bowles Avenue in Littleton. The rocket's installation forced a brief closure of the Mary Carter Greenway and the Littles Creek Trail Wednesday.
Littleton Police shared a couple of photos Wednesday morning that showed at least two heavy-duty cranes preparing to get into position to manipulate the rocket into the posts that will cradle the spacecraft.
The rocket is the third such display in the U.S. and is intended to draw visitors, according to South Suburban Parks and Recreation.
A majority of the project is being funded by a $2.4 million grant from the Telluray Foundation, South Suburban said. The grant covers the delivery and installation of the rocket.
Founded by Elon Musk in 2002, SpaceX was the first private company to successfully launch and return a spacecraft after orbiting Earth.
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