For the first time since 1997, a space shuttle will be making a brief stop in North Texas.

Because weather in Florida forced the Endeavour astronauts to touch down at an alternate landing site in California Sunday, it is now making its way back to its home base at Cape Canaveral riding piggyback aboard a specially-modified Boeing 747 jumbo jet.

The odd-looking combo craft took off from Edwards Air Force Base early Wednesday and landed at Biggs Army Airfield in El Paso at 11:15.

Weather conditions along the planned route have forced NASA to shift its next intermediate stop to the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base in Fort Worth, where Endeavor is scheduled to arrive at approximately 3:15 p.m.

The spacecraft will remain at the base overnight before continuing its transcontinental journey on Thursday morning.