Retiring space shuttle Endeavor flew over downtown Austin this morning. The shuttle spent last night in Houston and passed by Austin on its way to the Los Angeles Airport. Then in October, Endeavor will be transported along Los Angeles city streets to its final home at the California Science Center.

Several hundred gathered at the Texas State Capitol to watch the flyover, which was expected between 7:30 and 8:00 AM. Most of us waited on the south lawn down towards Congress Avenue. I saw some news crews over there and thought they probably knew this would be the best angle for photographs of the shuttle and the capitol dome. 

But it turns out that news crews don’t always know either. At 7:41 AM, we heard an engine roar behind us as Endeavor flew a few blocks south of the capitol grounds, almost above 10th Street. The flyover only last about 5 seconds but I did manage to get turned around and snap a picture. The crowd was impressed. It was pretty cool to see the shuttle flying over downtown.