Space Shuttle Endeavour Heads West to New Mission

Space shuttle Endeavour has lifted off on its final journey.

The youngest U.S. shuttle departed Kennedy Space Center in Florida at sunrise Wednesday on the first leg of its flight to California. It's bolted to the top of a jumbo jet.

Endeavour will make it as far as Houston on Wednesday and will arrive in Los Angeles on Friday. In mid-October, it will be transported very slowly down city streets to the California Science Center.

The U.S. space agency NASA has been shutting down its shuttle program. The 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.