Last Flight: Space Shuttle Endeavour fly-over in Tucson Thursday A.M.

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

The space shuttle that flew on NASA's next-to-last shuttle mission will make an appearance today in the skies over Tucson as it heads to its final home in California. Shuttle Endeavour to fly over Tucson:

The Space Shuttle Endeavour will fly over the city between 11 a.m. and noon.

The Tucson portion of the flight will honor former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and her husband, Mark Kelly, a former astronaut who commanded Endeavour's final mission to space in May 2011, said C.J. Karamargin, Giffords' former spokesman, who spoke with Kelly.

Kelly requested the shuttle fly over Tucson, and NASA agreed to the request as a tribute to the couple, Karamargin said.

The shuttle will enter Tucson from the east and begin its descent to 1,500 feet.

Once it reaches that altitude, it will fly directly over the University of Arizona Mall, he said.

The shuttle is mounted to the top of NASA's Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, a 747.

The aircraft is expected arrive here after similar fly overs of White Sands Missile Range and Las Cruces, N.M.

It is heading to the Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base in California, according to NASA.

In October, the Endeavour will move to the California Science Center in Los Angeles, where it will be on display.