Space Shuttle Enterprise Exposed After Sandy Barrels Through Northeast (PHOTOS)

Portions of the space shuttle Enterprise have been left exposed after superstorm Sandy ripped through the Northeast Monday. The shuttle is usually enclosed in the Space Shuttle Pavilion, a structure on the deck of the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum.

On Tuesday, Twitter users sent photos of the exposed space shuttle, which sits atop the decommissioned aircraft carrier. The climate-controlled nylon bubble, which The New York Post reports is like the kind used to enclose indoor tennis courts, appears to have collapsed, revealing the space shuttle's nose and tail.

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#Sandy blew the cover off Space Shuttle Enterprise last night twitter.com/emmelinez/stat…
— Emmeline Zhao (@emmelinez) October 30, 2012

Seems the space shuttle lost it's bubble #Sandy twitter.com/bnkly/status/2…
— Alex Binkley (@bnkly) October 30, 2012

It's unconfirmed whether the shuttle, which was a prototype and never actually flew in space, was damaged during the storm, although NYC Aviation sent a tweet that said the aircraft "lost a chunk of its vertical stabilizer."

Phone calls and emails to representatives of the Intrepid were not immediately returned. It is unclear whether the pavilion was taken down prior to the storm.

The Enterprise arrived in New York City in June and opened to visitors the following month.

Visit Mashable and CNN for additional photos.

UPDATE Oct. 30 -- Statement from Susan Marenoff-Zausner, President, Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum:

The rise in the Hudson River due to Hurricane Sandy caused flooding and damage to Pier 86. The pier was designed to withstand the 100 year storm. However, the unprecedented levels of water flooded the main electrical transformers and both of our backup generators. As a result, power issues caused the Space Shuttle Pavilion to deflate. We currently are assessing the situation. The safety of our employees is most important, and when our teams are able to safely work on site, we will begin to rebuild the areas of our complex that have been affected. We are eager to reopen our doors to the public, but as of now, the Museum will be closed until further notice. Please visit www.intrepidmuseum.org for updates. We appreciate your patience and support.

Click here for full coverage and live updates of superstorm Sandy.

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Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy
A resident makes their way through a gauntlet of downed trees and wires at Jane St. and Palisade Ave. in the Weekhawken Township of New Jersey after Hurricane Sandy passed through wreaking havoc with high winds, rain and flooding on Tuesday October 30, 2012. (Damon Dahlen, AOL)
Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy
A pole supporting power lines was blown over at 30th St. and Central Ave. in Union City New Jersey during the onslaught of winds brought on by Hurricane Sandy on Tuesday October 30, 2012. (Damon Dahlen, AOL)
Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy
A pole supporting power lines was blown over at 30th St. and Central Ave. in Union City New Jersey during the onslaught of winds brought on by Hurricane Sandy on Tuesday October 30, 2012. (Damon Dahlen, AOL)
New York City Gets Hammered By Superstorm Sandy
Hurricane Sandy batters the New York City skyline as the Lower Manhattan streets are inundated with flood waters from Sandy's storm surge on October 29, 2012. (Damon Dahlen, AOL) Correction: A previous caption for this post was misdated as Oct. 30.
New York City Gets Hammered By Superstorm Sandy
Hurricane Sandy batters the New York City skyline as the Lower Manhattan streets are inundated with flood waters from Sandy's storm surge on October 29, 2012. (Damon Dahlen, AOL) Correction: A previous caption for this post was misdated as Oct. 30.
New York City Gets Hammered By Superstorm Sandy
Hurricane Sandy batters the New York City skyline as the Lower Manhattan streets are inundated with flood waters from Sandy's storm surge on October 29, 2012. (Damon Dahlen, AOL) Correction: A previous caption for this post was misdated as Oct. 30.
New York City Gets Hammered By Superstorm Sandy
Hurricane Sandy batters the New York City skyline as the Lower Manhattan streets are inundated with flood waters from Sandy's storm surge on October 29, 2012. (Damon Dahlen, AOL) Correction: A previous caption for this post was misdated as Oct. 30.
New York City Gets Hammered By Superstorm Sandy
Hurricane Sandy batters the New York City skyline as the Lower Manhattan streets are inundated with flood waters from Sandy's storm surge on October 29, 2012. (Damon Dahlen, AOL) Correction: A previous caption for this post was misdated as Oct. 30.
New York City Gets Hammered By Superstorm Sandy
Hurricane Sandy batters the New York City skyline as the Lower Manhattan streets are inundated with flood waters from Sandy's storm surge on October 29, 2012. (Damon Dahlen, AOL) Correction: A previous caption for this post was misdated as Oct. 30.
New York City Gets Hammered By Superstorm Sandy
Hurricane Sandy batters the New York City skyline as the Lower Manhattan streets are inundated with flood waters from Sandy's storm surge on October 29, 2012. (Damon Dahlen, AOL) Correction: A previous caption for this post was misdated as Oct. 30.
New York City Gets Hammered By Superstorm Sandy
Hurricane Sandy batters the New York City skyline as the Lower Manhattan streets are inundated with flood waters from Sandy's storm surge on October 29, 2012. (Damon Dahlen, AOL) Correction: A previous caption for this post was misdated as Oct. 30.
New York City Gets Hammered By Superstorm Sandy
Hurricane Sandy batters the New York City skyline as the Lower Manhattan streets are inundated with flood waters from Sandy's storm surge on October 29, 2012. (Damon Dahlen, AOL) Correction: A previous caption for this post was misdated as Oct. 30.
New York City Gets Hammered By Superstorm Sandy
Hurricane Sandy batters the New York City skyline as the Lower Manhattan streets are inundated with flood waters from Sandy's storm surge on October 29, 2012. (Damon Dahlen, AOL) Correction: A previous caption for this post was misdated as Oct. 30.
New York City Gets Hammered By Superstorm Sandy
Hurricane Sandy batters the New York City skyline as the Lower Manhattan streets are inundated with flood waters from Sandy's storm surge on October 29, 2012. (Damon Dahlen, AOL) Correction: A previous caption for this post was misdated as Oct. 30.
New York City Gets Hammered By Superstorm Sandy
Hurricane Sandy batters the New York City skyline as the Lower Manhattan streets are inundated with flood waters from Sandy's storm surge on October 29, 2012. (Damon Dahlen, AOL) Correction: A previous caption for this post was misdated as Oct. 30.
New York City Prepares For Hurricane Sandy
Brazilian tourists Zequiel Oliveira, left and Walter Soares take photos at the Esplanade in Lower Manhattan as Hurricane Sandy approaches New York City. New York braced for Hurricane Sandy as the storm approaches the east coast of the United States and is slated to make landfall in New Jersey on Monday October 29, 2012. (Damon Dahlen, AOL)
New York City Prepares For Hurricane Sandy
The Plaza Shops in lower Manhattan have prepared for Hurricane Sandy's arrival with sandbags piled high as their is expected to be flooding from the storm surge associated with the hurricane. New York City braced for Hurricane Sandy as the storm approaches the east coast of the United States on Monday October 29, 2012. (Damon Dahlen, AOL)
New York City Prepares For Hurricane Sandy
Brazilian tourists Zequiel Oliveira and Walter Soares take photos at the Esplanade in Lower Manhattan as Hurricane Sandy approaches New York City. New York braced for Hurricane Sandy as the storm approaches the east coast of the United States and is slated to make landfall in New Jersey on Monday October 29, 2012. (Damon Dahlen, AOL)
New York City Prepares For Hurricane Sandy
New York City sanitation trucks are lined up at Cooper Square in New York for the anticipated cleanup from Hurrican Sandy. New York City braces for Hurricane Sandy as the storm approaches the east coast of the United States on Monday October 29, 2012. (Damon Dahlen, AOL)
New York City Prepares For Hurricane Sandy
Spanish tourist Amaranta Amador, left and Spanish student Imanol Lekue take time out from the storm to have coffee and a muffin as Hurricane Sandy approaches New York City. New York braced for Hurricane Sandy as the storm approaches the east coast of the United States and is slated to make landfall in New Jersey on Monday October 29, 2012. (Damon Dahlen, AOL)
New York City Prepares For Hurricane Sandy
Onlookers make their way around Lower Manhattan's Battery Park as Hurricane Sandy makes her way north. New York City braced for Hurricane Sandy as the storm approached the east coast of the United States and was slated to make landfall in New Jersey on Monday October 29, 2012. (Damon Dahlen, AOL)
New York City Prepares For Hurricane Sandy
Brazilian tourists Walter Soares take photos at the Esplanade in Lower Manhattan as Hurricane Sandy approaches New York City. New York braced for Hurricane Sandy as the storm approaches the east coast of the United States and is slated to make landfall in New Jersey on Monday October 29, 2012. (Damon Dahlen, AOL)
New York City Prepares For Hurricane Sandy
Erin Hillmar, left and Steve Seltz check out the sites at Battery Park in Lower Manhattan as Hurricane Sandy approaches New York City. New York braced for Hurricane Sandy as the storm approaches the east coast of the United States and is slated to make landfall in New Jersey on Monday October 29, 2012. (Damon Dahlen, AOL)
New York City Prepares For Hurricane Sandy
Lower Manhattan subways stations have been boarded up and sand-bagged with the impending landfall of Hurrican Sandy expected to bring flooding with the storm surge brought on by the hurricane. New York City braces for Hurricane Sandy as the storm approaches the east coast of the United States on Monday October 29, 2012. (Damon Dahlen, AOL)
New York City Prepares For Hurricane Sandy
Chilean tourists Juan Irarrazaval, left and Pilar Ferrada check out the sites at Lower Manhattan's Battery Park as Hurricane Sandy approaches New York City. New York braced for Hurricane Sandy as the storm approaches the east coast of the United States and is slated to make landfall in New Jersey on Monday October 29, 2012. (Damon Dahlen, AOL)
New York City Prepares For Hurricane Sandy
Onlookers make their way around Lower Manhattan's Battery Park as Hurricane Sandy makes her way north. New York City braced for Hurricane Sandy as the storm approached the east coast of the United States and was slated to make landfall in New Jersey on Monday October 29, 2012. (Damon Dahlen, AOL)
New York City Prepares For Hurricane Sandy
Onlookers make their way around Lower Manhattan's Esplanade as Hurricane Sandy makes her way north. New York City braced for Hurricane Sandy as the storm approached the east coast of the United States and was slated to make landfall in New Jersey on Monday October 29, 2012. (Damon Dahlen, AOL)
New York City Prepares For Hurricane Sandy
Brazilian tourists Zequiel Oliveira, left and Walter Soares take photos at the Esplanade in Lower Manhattan as Hurricane Sandy approaches New York City. New York braced for Hurricane Sandy as the storm approaches the east coast of the United States and is slated to make landfall in New Jersey on Monday October 29, 2012. (Damon Dahlen, AOL)
New York City Prepares For Hurricane Sandy
NYPD officers take time out to pose for a portrait at Lower Manhattan's Battery Park before Hurricane Sandy arrives. New York City braced for Hurricane Sandy as the storm approached the east coast of the United States where it was slated to make landfall in New Jersey on Monday October 29, 2012. (Damon Dahlen, AOL)
New York City Prepares For Hurricane Sandy
Onlookers make their way around Lower Manhattan's Battery Park as Hurricane Sandy makes her way north. New York City braced for Hurricane Sandy as the storm approached the east coast of the United States and was slated to make landfall in New Jersey on Monday October 29, 2012. (Damon Dahlen, AOL)