Space shuttle Endeavour flyovers generate social media buzz

Space shuttle Endeavour is generating excitement Thursday as it flies from Texas to Edwards Air Force Base in California's Mojave Desert.

People took to Twitter, Facebook and other social media (see below) as the shuttle departed Houston and made a flyover of Austin, posting their photos of the retired orbiter as it passed near local landmarks.

The shuttle left Houston shortly after 5 a.m. PDT on Thursday en route for Edwards Air Force Base, where it is expected to touch down around 12:30 p.m. after a 30-minute flyover around the base.

View the story "Westward ho! Endeavour heads to California" on StorifyWestward ho! Endeavour heads to CaliforniaSpace shuttle Endeavour's final flight from Kennedy Space Center in Florida to its permanent home in Los Angeles is a historic farewell tour. Perched on the back of a modified Boeing 747, the shuttle is flying 1,500 feet over several cities along the route, including Houston, Austin and Tucson.Storified by Kate Mather · Thu, Sep 20 2012 08:08:53Space shuttle Endeavour departs Florida for Los AngelesAt long last, space shuttle Endeavour is headed home. Perched atop a modified Boeing 747, the retired orbiter departed Kennedy Space Cent...Endeavour takes to the sky over the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Fla. at 7:22 a.m. EDT. http://pic.twitter.com/PkH2iXa7NASA Kennedy / KSCEndeavour Begins Final JourneynasatelevisionJust watched with the kids the Shuttle Endeavor take off from Kennedy Space Center. Cool moment!Brian Hicks*may* have teared up "@NASA: Space shuttle Endeavour, atop the SCA, departed Kennedy Space Center just after sunrise this morning!cjongewardEndeavour lifting off from Kennedy Space Center for final liftoff! Heading to CA for retirement ... what a sight! Majestic!Cheryl HorsleyJust saw Shuttle #Endeavour fly over Kennedy Space Center on its way to California. #amazing http://pic.twitter.com/9Iq4DNVSDavid SaphirsteinSpace shuttle Endeavour leaves Houston for CaliforniaCalifornia, here it comes. Space shuttle Endeavour left Houston shortly after 5 a.m. PST Thursday en route for Edwards Air Force Base in ...The shuttle stayed overnight in Houston, where it was available for public viewing for several hours. After taking off about 7 a.m. PST Thursday, it flew over the city before heading to Austin to dip low over the state Capitol.Lots of folks @ Ellington Field today to #SpotTheShuttle Endeavour #OV105. http://pic.twitter.com/a8qMNeteTodd HahnJust saw the space shuttle leaving #Houston. Passed close to the office. Quite a moment for me. End of an era of dreams #nasaHarris GriffinShuttle #Endeavour flying next to the UT Tower #spottheshuttle #austin http://twitpic.com/awk6kyLara EakinsShuttle over Austin, Texas #OV105 http://pic.twitter.com/r1fpKBUKBlakeley McCrackenPHOTO: Endeavour soars over the Texas Capitol in Austin. http://yfrog.com/j2h1lsrj #ov105 #spottheshuttleSpaceflightNowGot to see the Space Shuttle Endeavor fly over me on my route to work this morning! Neatest thing I've seen in ages! I got chills!Stefanie NelsenThe space shuttle flew over TxDOT's Greer Building in downtown Austin this morning. What a cool sight! http://pic.twitter.com/h3mkAQobbobattxdotClose-up photo of space shuttle Endeavour flying over Houston this morning http://twitpic.com/awbu85Texas FoodNot everyone was happy to see Endeavour continue its journey to California. Houston — the "Space City" that houses Johnson Space Center — applied for one of the retired orbiters. After the shuttles went to other cities, there was criticism from both the public and state lawmakers, who dubbed it the "Houston Shuttle Snub."Still mad. The shuttle left Houston this morning. Space City is not a happy place without it. So long old friend.jillmalitzSaw space shuttle Endeavor leaving Houston this morning. What might have been...Ted HarwoodEven though Endeavour should be STAYING in Houston, we toasted it with Endeavour as it flew over the brewery http://pic.twitter.com/ftcP1LyJSaintArnoldThe shuttle landed at El Paso's Biggs Army Air Field at 7:12 a.m. PST for a 90-minute stop to refuel, NASA said. It will then fly over NASA's White Sans Test Facility in New Mexico and Tucson before arriving at Edwards Air Force Base in California. Endeavour is expected to land at the Mojave Desert Base about 12:30 p.m.

Riding atop a modified Boeing 747, the shuttle has already dipped low over the Texas state Capitol in Austin. It landed at El Paso's Biggs Army Airfield at 7:12 PDT for refueling, NASA officials said, and is scheduled to fly over NASA's White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico before heading to Tucson for another low pass.

FULL COVERAGE: Endeavour's final journey to L.A.

The Tucson flyover was added to the route to honor former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, whose husband, Mark Kelly, commanded Endeavour's final mission last year. Kelly requested the flyover, NASA confirmed.

To welcome the space shuttle to Southern California, NASA has invited 40 of its social media followers, including space enthusiasts, to the Dryden Flight Research Center on the Edwards base. The participants were randomly selected from online registrations that took place in August, according to information published by the space agency.

The group, restricted to U.S. citizens 18 and over who follow NASA on Twitter, Facebook and Google+, will have a rare opportunity to see the landing and departure of Endeavour, officials said. They will also be given the opportunity to speak with experts, tour shuttle support vehicles and other NASA aircraft, as well as interact with members of NASA's social media team, according to the published information.

PHOTOS: Space shuttle Endeavour arrives

Portions of the so-called NASA social will be carried live on the space agency’s television station and website, according to NASA’s website.

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--Kate Mather