Space Shuttle May Finally Finish Piggyback Ride

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) - The space shuttle may finally piggyback its way to Florida on Friday, after wintry storms and crosswinds again delayed Endeavour's trek to the Kennedy Space Center.

Endeavour, fixed to the top of a modified 747, first began the return to its Florida home Wednesday morning from Edwards Air Force Base in California. It took off Thursday afternoon after an overnight stop in Fort Worth, Texas, but again had to stop for the night at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana.

NASA officials say the shuttle is scheduled to arrive no earlier than 2 p.m. Friday.

The shuttle returned Nov. 30 from a mission to the international space station, landing at the California backup site because of storms in Florida. The cross-country ferry is expected to cost more than $1.8 million.

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