Space Shuttle Endeavour Soars on Final Ferry Flight (Photos)

Final Takeoff: Shuttle Endeavour Leaves Florida Forever

Space shuttle Endeavour, atop its Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, takes off on NASA's last-ever ferry flight from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Sept. 19, 2012. Endeavour is headed for Los Angeles, Calif., to be put on public display at the California Science Center.

Shuttle Endeavour Taxis for Final Ferry Flight

NASA's space shuttle Endeavour, perched atop the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (a modified 747 jumbo jet), taxis to the end of the Shuttle Landing Facility runway at the Kennedy Space Center ahead of its final departure from Cape Canaveral, Fla., to Los Angeles, Calif., on Sept. 19, 2012. Endeavour will be placed on display at the California Science Center in L.A.

Shuttle Endeavour Taxis for Final Ferry Flight

NASA's space shuttle Endeavour, perched atop the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (a modified 747 jumbo jet), taxis to the end of the Shuttle Landing Facility runway at the Kennedy Space Center ahead of its final departure from Cape Canaveral, Fla., to Los Angeles, Calif. Endeavour will be placed on display at the California Science Center in L.A.

Farewell, Endeavour: Crowd for Ferry Flight Takeoff

Hundreds of NASA workers watch as the space shuttle Endeavour takes off on the last-ever shuttle ferry flight from Florida on Sept. 19, 2012. Endeavour, riding atop a Shuttle Carrier aircraft, began a three-day trip from Florida to Los Angeles, Calif., to go on display at the California Science Center.

Shuttle Endeavour Taxis for Final Ferry Flight

NASA's space shuttle Endeavour, perched atop the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (a modified 747 jumbo jet), taxis to the end of the Shuttle Landing Facility runway at the Kennedy Space Center ahead of its final departure from Cape Canaveral, Fla., to Los Angeles, Calif., on Sept. 19, 2012. Endeavour will be placed on display at the California Science Center in L.A.

Shuttle Endeavour Taxis for Final Ferry Flight

NASA's space shuttle Endeavour, perched atop the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (a modified 747 jumbo jet), taxis to the end of the Shuttle Landing Facility runway at the Kennedy Space Center ahead of its final departure from Cape Canaveral, Fla., to Los Angeles, Calif., on Sept. 19, 2012. Endeavour will be placed on display at the California Science Center in L.A.

Shuttle Endeavour Taxis for Final Ferry Flight

NASA's space shuttle Endeavour, perched atop the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (a modified 747 jumbo jet), taxis to the end of the Shuttle Landing Facility runway at the Kennedy Space Center ahead of its final departure from Cape Canaveral, Fla., to Los Angeles, Calif., on Sept. 19, 2012. Endeavour will be placed on display at the California Science Center in L.A.

Shuttle Endeavour Taxis for Final Ferry Flight

NASA's space shuttle Endeavour, perched atop the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (a modified 747 jumbo jet), taxis to the end of the Shuttle Landing Facility runway at the Kennedy Space Center ahead of its final departure from Cape Canaveral, Fla., to Los Angeles, Calif., on Sept. 19, 2012. Endeavour will be placed on display at the California Science Center in L.A.

Shuttle Endeavour Taxis for Final Ferry Flight

NASA's space shuttle Endeavour, perched atop the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (a modified 747 jumbo jet), taxis to the end of the Shuttle Landing Facility runway at the Kennedy Space Center ahead of its final departure from Cape Canaveral, Fla., to Los Angeles, Calif., on Sept. 19, 2012. Endeavour will be placed on display at the California Science Center in L.A.

Shuttle Endeavour Taxis for Final Ferry Flight

NASA's space shuttle Endeavour, perched atop the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (a modified 747 jumbo jet), taxis to the end of the Shuttle Landing Facility runway at the Kennedy Space Center ahead of its final departure from Cape Canaveral, Fla., to Los Angeles, Calif., on Sept. 19, 2012. Endeavour will be placed on display at the California Science Center in L.A.