Los Angeles (AP) - At its prime, the space shuttle Endeavour cruised around the Earth at 17,500 mph, faster than a speeding bullet.
In retirement, it's crawling along at a sluggish 2 mph, a pace that rush-hour commuters can sympathize with.
Endeavour's 12-mile road trip kicked off shortly before midnight Thursday as it moved from its Los Angeles International Airport hangar en route to the California Science Center, its ultimate destination, said Benjamin Scheier of the center.
The space craft was escorted by a security entourage as it moved across the tarmac but was briefly delayed after a minor problem developed with its trailer, Los Angeles police Sgt. Rudy Lopez said. The problem was quickly repaired and Scheier said it reached the street shortly after 2 a.m. PDT Friday.
Endeavour was to travel slowly on the street for about two hours to a private parking lot where it will have a nine-hour layover as crews deal with power lines father ahead on the route.
While the shuttle will have the streets and sidewalks to itself during the two-day journey as it inches past strip malls, storefronts, apartment buildings and front lawns, it will be a constant stop-and-go commute.
Endeavour commander Mark Kelly talked about the move, the space program, and his wife Gabby Giffords on Thursday on 13WHAM News This Morning on Rochester’s CW.
