Space Shuttle Endeavour Soars on Final Ferry Flight (Photos)

Shuttle Endeavour Lands at Ellington Field

Shuttle Endeavour on the back of the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft lands at Ellington Field, near Houston, TX, on September 19, 2012. Endeavour is being ferried to Los Angeles, where it will reside in the California Science Center.

Shuttle Carrier Aircraft Stops at Ellington Field

The Shuttle Carrier Aircraft carrying shuttle Endeavour to Los Angeles comes to a stop on the runway at Ellington Field, Houston, TX, on September 19, 2012.

Watching Endeavour on Cocoa Beach Pier

Joe Burn watches the takeoff of NASA's Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA) and the space shuttle Endeavour from NASA's Kennedy Space Center on TV while manning his Cocoa Beach Pier ticket booth, Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012 in Cocoa Beach, Fla. The SCA, a modified 747 jetliner, is flying 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.

Watching Endeavour in a Cocoa Beach Bar

Gary Spencer, a NASA contractor, watches the takeoff of NASA's Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA) and the space shuttle Endeavour from NASA's Kennedy Space Center on TV at the Cocoa Beach Pier in Florida, Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012. The SCA, a modified 747 jetliner, is flying 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.

Locals and Tourists Waiting for Endeavour

Locals and tourists wait on the beach for the flyover of the space shuttle Endeavour atop NASA's Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA), Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012 in Cocoa Beach, 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.

Waiting for Endeavour with Birds on Cocoa Beach

Locals and tourists wait on the beach for the flyover of the space shuttle Endeavour atop NASA's Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA), Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012 in Cocoa Beach, 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.

Shuttle Carrier Aircraft Takes Off with Endeavour

The space shuttle Endeavour, atop NASA's Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA), is seen shortly after takeoff from NASA's Kennedy Space Center on Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012 in Cape Canaveral, Fla. The SCA, a modified 747 jetliner is flying 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.

Waiting for Endeavour on the Lifeguard Tower

Locals and tourists wait on the beach for the flyover of the space shuttle Endeavour atop NASA's Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA), Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012 in Cocoa Beach, 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.

Endeavour Leaves the Space Coast

Space Coast Snapshots sends this photo of Endeavour flying atop the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft on September 19, 2012, taken in an undisclosed location.

Endeavour over Stennis

Chad L. Nicholas sends this photo of Endeavour flying 1500 feet over Stennis Space Center in Mississippi, Sept. 19, 2012.