Retired Shuttle Endeavour Set for Stop in Houston

Space shuttle Endeavour, bolted atop a modified jumbo jet, makes its departure from the Kennedy Space Center, Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Endeavour will make a stop in Houston before heading to the California Science Center in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

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By Kara Kelly

Story Created: Sep 19, 2012 at 9:07 AM CDT

Story Updated: Sep 19, 2012 at 10:24 AM CDT

HOUSTON (AP) — Space shuttle Endeavour is flying over Houston as it prepares to land for a one-day stop on its trek west to retirement in a California museum.

The shuttle, atop a modified jumbo jet, was on its way Wednesday morning to a runway near NASA's Johnson Space Center at Ellington Field, where hundreds of people were gathered awaiting its arrival.

It's being described as a bittersweet moment because Endeavor is not staying at the home of NASA's Mission Control. Instead, Houston got a full-sized shuttle replica.

Bad weather this week delayed Endeavour's trip and will cut its time in Houston by a day.

Endeavour departed Kennedy Space Center in Florida earlier Wednesday after a two-day weather delay. It will stay in Houston until Thursday morning.

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