Endeavour to begin return trip to Fla. on Monday

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Space shuttle Endeavour will begin its cross-country return trip to Florida atop a modified jumbo jet.

The shuttle will return Monday, one day later than expected. The space agency blamed the delay on preparations to install the flight tail cone on the shuttle.

It takes about a week and costs $1.8 million to transport the shuttle from California to Florida.

Endeavour returned from a nearly 16-day mission to repair and upgrade the international space station.