Shuttle's return hit by further delay

Space shuttle Endeavour has to wait another day to make its cross-country return trip to Florida.

Nasa officials said Endeavour’s piggyback ride on a modified jumbo jet was postponed until tomorrow because of bad weather at its first scheduled stop in Texas.

The shuttle was diverted last week on its return from orbit to Edwards Air Force Base in California after stormy weather hit its main Florida landing site.

It was scheduled to leave yesterday but technicians had trouble installing the aerodynamic cone that fits over the back of the shuttle.

Then Nasa managers decided to delay it another day after reviewing the weather forecast.

It will cost about $1.8m (€1.3m) to transport the shuttle from California to Florida.