In a momentous event witnessed by a captivated crowd, the final journey of the last space shuttle ever built, Endeavour, came to completion on Tuesday morning. Positioned against the majestic black backdrop of the night sky, the iconic spacecraft was carefully hoisted by a crane and then gently lowered outside the California Science Center, its ultimate resting place.

Endeavour's remarkable 19-year career, which included 25 space voyages, reached its last leg as it was stacked vertically and affixed to an external tank and two solid rocket boosters. However, this historic mission wasn't about touching the stars once more; it was about inspiring the next generation of space explorers. Endeavour will serve as the centerpiece of the upcoming Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center, which is still under construction.

"The process tonight has been very quick, and I believe we have exceeded expectations," remarked Jeffrey Rudolph, president of the California Science Center. "We were fortunate with good weather and not too much wind."

The positioning of Endeavour in full-stack launch position is rare, making it the only space shuttle displayed in such a way. For the past 11 years, the shuttle had rested in a horizontal position inside the California Science Center, awaiting its move to its permanent home.

Late on Monday, two cranes carefully lifted Endeavour, a process that took up to 10 hours to complete. In an unprecedented move, the orbiter was assembled vertically outside of a NASA or Air Force facility, marking a significant milestone in space exploration history.

The moment of truth arrived just after 9:30 p.m. on Monday, as crowds gathered on State Drive to witness the historic occasion. An 11-story crane hoisted Endeavour's tail, while a colossal 40-story crawler crane raised its nose with utmost precision. The move began half an hour earlier than anticipated, with officials crediting calmer winds for prompting the early action. The entire installation was livestreamed for viewers around the world to witness.

Once the shuttle was pointing upward, the smaller crane was removed, and the larger crane began lowering the orbiter just after midnight, a slow and nerve-wracking descent for experienced astronaut Garrett Reisman. As the shuttle's rudder came within 20 feet of the second-level platform, Reisman described the moment as "terrifying."

The meticulous placement of the shuttle required precise maneuvering. Endeavour's nose was raised 200 feet into the night sky to ensure clearance for its 80-foot rudder. It was then turned 17 degrees clockwise to provide adequate room for its impressive 78-foot wingspan before being meticulously lowered, according to Larry Clark, a retired space shuttle engineer with 44 years of experience at the Kennedy Space Center.

The move faced some delays due to high winds, but the dedicated crews successfully raised the massive tank at the California Science Center on Friday, with near-completion on Saturday. Reisman noted that the stacked formation offers a unique vantage point of the orbiter, allowing visitors to appreciate its true scale.

The final phase of Endeavour's journey will commence this month, involving the "capture" process of attaching the space shuttle to the 15-story external fuel tank, ET-94. This giant orange tube is the last remaining tank of its kind. The "hard mate" step is projected to take place as early as Tuesday evening, but it may span a couple of days, as all parts of the iconic space shuttle are meticulously bolted into place.

The completion of Endeavour's final journey is a defining moment for space exploration. As one era of space shuttles draws to a close, the legacy of Endeavour will continue to inspire and ignite the passion for space discovery in future generations.