A nice low sun on this pair of T-38 Talons on static display at the entrance of the NASA Space Center Houston. N900NA is displayed behind.

Space Shuttle Independence, seen here mounted on Shuttle Carrier Aircraft N905NA, is not a real Shuttle, but a very accurate full-scale replica. It was constructed in the early 1990s and placed on display at the Kennedy Space Center in 1993, then named "Explorer". In late May 2012 it was transported by barge to Houston, where it arrived on June 1st. Explorer was placed on display at the Space Center Houston on poles, and in October 2013 it was renamed "Independence". On 14 August 2014 the replica Shuttle was placed on top of Shuttle Carrier Aircraft N905NA, which had arrived at the Space Center Houston in late April 2014.

Interesting detail on the front fuselage of NASA Shuttle Carrier Aircraft N905NA, showing all 222 Shuttle missions it flew, plus two Phantom Ray missions. Over time it has carried all six Space Shuttles. Click here for a photo of the full aircraft.

This is one of NASA's two Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA). It has been on display on Independence Plaza at the Space Center Houston since 30 April 2014. Sitting on its back is Independence, which is not a real Space Shuttle, but merely an accurate full-scale replica. There never was a flying Shuttle Independence.

Ex USAF 65-10402 on display outside the entrance of the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Houston, with N900NA behind.