Los Angelenos, including employees at NASA’s Spitzer Science Center, were treated to a unique sight in the skies on the final day of summer. The Space Shuttle Endeavour, mounted atop its specially-adapted 747, made a grand tour of the Los Angles basin on September 21st as part of its final journey, which will eventually take it to its permanent home at the California Science Center in Exposition Park.

As part of its grand tour, Endeavour made several passes over Griffith Observatory before cruising over the California Institute of Technology, home of the Spitzer Science Center, and later NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Such an historic event drew many Spitzer team members to the roof of the science center (where the above photo was taken) while others viewed the fly-by from other vantage points across the city.

The excitement doesn’t end here, however. Endeavour is slated to make a unique 12-mile road trip from Los Angeles International Airport to the California Science Center during the day of October 13th. This is the only time a space shuttle will ever travel across public roads and the city is planning for viewing opportunities along the entire route.

Following its arrival, NASA and Spitzer will be participating in a week-long first-viewing event as Endeavour is revealed in its new display space. The event starts on October 30th through November 4th. Full details are available at the California Science Center website. We will also update this feature as schedule updates become available.