Shuttle expected to land in Houston on Wednesday

Landing depends on weather

HOUSTON – The space shuttle Endeavour is expected to land in Houston, atop a Boeing 747, early Wednesday morning -- two days later than planned.

The visits Monday and Tuesday to Houston were delayed because of weather. NASA said late Monday, "In cooperation with the Federal Aviation Administration, the shuttle carrier aircraft is scheduled to conduct low-level flyovers at about 1,500 feet above locations along the planned flight path.

The exact timing and path of the ferry flight will depend on weather conditions and operational constraints. 

Some planned flyovers or stopovers could be delayed or cancelled. If the ferry flight is postponed again, an additional advisory will be issued.

NASA expects Endeavour to leave the Kennedy Space Center at sunrise Wednesday.

NASA said, "The aircraft will fly west and conduct low flyovers of NASA's Stennis Space Center in Mississippi and the agency's Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans.

As it arrives over the Texas Gulf Coast area, the SCA will perform low flyovers above various areas of Houston and Clear Lake before landing at Ellington Field near NASA's Johnson Space Center."

Native Houstonian and space fan, Judy Haas said she first thought the Endeavour's planned visit to Houston was a reminder of how her city lost out in the "Shuttle scuttle."

Then she reconsidered.

"It was almost an insult. I seriously thought maybe I wouldn't go to see it on top of the 747," Haas said.

She now plans to watch the visit.

NASA expected the shuttle to stay in Houston overnight Wednesday and take off early Thursday morning.

It is expected to arrive in California on Friday. However, NASA said all of this could change with the weather.