CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Space shuttle Endeavour began a journey to its new life as a museum piece Wednesday, heading west on the last ferry flight of its kind and leaving behind its NASA home.

Bolted to the top of a jumbo jet, NASA's youngest shuttle departed Kennedy Space Center at sunrise Wednesday on the first leg of its flight to California.

Hundreds of people — astronauts, space center workers, tourists and journalists — gathered at the runway to bid Endeavour farewell following two days of rain delays. Crowds also lined the beaches of Cape Canaveral as the shuttle swooped low overhead in one final show.