NASA hit a snag in preparations for the return of the orbiter Endeavour to Kennedy Space Cennter, but the spaceship and its 747 carrier aircraft still might make it back to Florida before sunset Monday.
Agency and contractor officials will meet later today in a Ferry Flight Readiness Review, but at this juncture, it appears that the 747 and Endeavour probably won't depart Edwards Air Force Base in California before Sunday afternoon.
The earliest the flying duo might be at KSC as a result is Monday evening.
NASA flight rules call for the 747 and Endeavour to be on the ground by sunset.
Preparations for the cross-country ferry flight were ahead of schedule Friday, but NASA and shuttle fleet operator United Space Alliance ran in to trouble with attach points for an aerodynamic tailcone.
The tailcone, which is designed to reduce aerodynamic drag, was scheduled to be mounted around the aft end of the orbiter on Friday. But KSC spokesman George Diller said the problems delayed that critical milestone in ferry flight preparations.
The readiness review is scheduled to begin around 2 p.m. EST and will probably take a couple of hours to complete. Plan to check back later today for an update.
Space news and analysis from Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral 
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