NASA hands Endeavour to Los Angeles museum

Astronauts, celebrities and local officials held a ceremonial transfer of ownership for the space shuttle orbiter Endeavour from NASA to the California Science Center in Los Angeles on Tuesday.

"NASA is pleased to share this wonderful orbiter with the California Science Center to help inspire a new generation of explorers," NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said. "The next chapter in space exploration begins now, and we're standing on the shoulders of the men and women of the shuttle program to reach farther into the solar system."

The museum and educational attraction will receive Endeavour in the latter half of 2012 for display.

Endeavour's spaceflight career covered 25 voyages to Earth orbit over 19 years, spanning 122,883,151 miles traveled, 4,677 revolutions of the planet and 299 days aloft.

"Endeavour now will begin its new mission to stimulate an interest in science and engineering in future generations at the science center," California Science Center President Jeffrey Rudolph said.

Photo credit: Gene Blevins/LA Daily News

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