Endeavour's Final Flight to LA Science Center

First Posted: Sep 10, 2012 08:44 AM EDT
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Mounted on NASA's modified 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA) the space shuttle Endeavour is scheduled to make its final ferry flight of the Space Shuttle Program era Monday Sept.17.

The title and ownership of Endeavour is being transferred to the California Science Center in Los Angeles by NASA. According to the Space Act Agreement with the science center, NASA will safely transport Endeavour to Los Angeles International Airport for a planned arrival Thursday, Sept. 20.

The SCA is scheduled to conduct low-level flyovers at about 1,500 feet above locations along the planned flight path. Weather conditions and operational constraints will determine the time and path of the ferry flight. There is a possibility for some planned flyovers to be delayed.

The SCA and Endeavour will perform a flyover of various areas of the Space Coast, including Kennedy, the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and Patrick Air Force Base Sept 17. 

Endeavour completed 25 missions, spent 299 days in orbit, and orbited Earth 4,671 times while traveling 122,883,151 miles. SCA and Endeavour will take off from Dryden and perform a low-level flyover of northern California, passing near NASA's Ames Research Center at Moffett Field, Calif., and various landmarks in multiple cities, including San Francisco and Sacramento. The aircraft also will conduct a flyover of many Los Angeles sites before landing about 11 a.m.

On reaching Los Angeles International Airport, SCA and Endeavour would be separated. Endeavour will spend a few weeks at a United Airlines hangar undergoing preparations for transport and display after which it will head to the science center.

 Beginning Oct. 30, the shuttle will be on display in the science center's Samuel Oschin Space Shuttle Endeavour Display Pavilion, embarking on its new mission to commemorate past achievements in space and educate and inspire future generations of explorers.

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