Space shuttle Endeavour heads west to new mission

  • By MARCIA DUNN
    AP Aerospace Writer
  • Posted: Wednesday, September 19, 2012 7:36 a.m.
  • Text size: A A A
AP Photo/NASA, Bill IngallsThis photo provided by NASA shows a worker at NASA's Kennedy Space Center photographing the space shuttle Endeavour from a hatch on the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, or SCA, at the Shuttle Landing Facility on Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2012 in Cape Canaveral, Fla. The SCA, a modified 747 jetliner, will fly Endeavour to Los Angeles where it will be placed on public display at the California Science Center. This is the final ferry flight scheduled in the Space Shuttle Program era.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Space shuttle Endeavour has lifted off on its final journey.

NASA’s youngest shuttle departed Kennedy Space Center at sunrise Wednesday on the first leg of its flight to California. It’s bolted to the top of a jumbo jet.

Hundreds gathered at the runway to bid Endeavour farewell, following two days of rain delays.

Endeavour will make it as far as Houston on Wednesday, after flying low over NASA facilities along the way.

The shuttle will arrive at Los Angeles International Airport on Friday. In mid-October, it will be transported down city streets to the California Science Center.

This is NASA’s last ferry flight of a shuttle. Atlantis will remain at Kennedy for display. Discovery is already at the Smithsonian Institution.

Endeavour flew 25 times in space before retiring last year.

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