Aircraft carrying a shuttle

The shuttle Endeavor is mounted on the back of a dedicated Boeing 747 transport aircraft, to move from Edwards air base in California to the home yard, the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

After a half-month trip to the ISS International Space Station, the shuttle Endeavor could not return to Florida's Kennedy Space Center earlier this month as planned due to bad weather and had to land at the base. Edwards army on November 30. So NASA had to take a special transport plane to carry the shuttle back.Photo: NASA

A special rig for mounting Endeavor on the back of a Boeing 747 transport aircraft at Edwards base, preparing to take the shuttle home in Florida. Photo: NASA.

NASA technicians are working at the end of Endeavor to prepare to mount it on the back of a transport plane at Edwards base, on December 5. Photo: NASA.

A technician is checking the thermal protection plate under the shuttle belly when it is mounted on the back of the aircraft.Photo: AP.

The Boeing 747 piggyback Endeavor took off from Edwards airstrip runway in California, Florida only, on December 10. Photo: NASA.

The plane is taking high altitude with the heavy spaceship on its back. Photo: AP.

The Endeavor and the Boeing 747 flew across California's Mojave Desert. Photo: NASA.

Endeavor and transport aircraft landed at Ellington Airport near NASA's Jognson Space Center in Texas, a train stop on the way back to Florida Kennedy Space Center. Photo: NASA.

Space Shuttle Endeavor flies through Clear Lake lake area after leaving Johnson Space Center. The photo was taken from T-38 aircraft. Photo: NASA.

The T-38 jet fighter flies above the shuttle. This is a NASA plane that follows Endeavor's journey and captures epic images of the trip. Photo: NASA.

Endeavor is landing in Kennedy Space Center in Florida, after a trip from California is broken down into several flights. Endeavor's next flight to space is expected to take place in May 2009. Photo: Reuters.