Retired shuttle Endeavour is hoisted into launch position at new museum

Space Shuttle Endeavour is lifted into the site of the future Samuel Oschin Air and Space Centre (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Nasa’s retired space shuttle Endeavour was carefully hoisted late on Monday to be mated to a huge external fuel tank and its two solid rocket boosters at a Los Angeles museum where it will be uniquely displayed as if it is about to blast off.

A massive crane delicately began lifting the orbiter, which is 37 metres long and has a 24-metre wingspan, into the partially built Samuel Oschin Air and Space Centre at the California Science Centre in Exposition Park.