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Crowds Turn Out To See Historic Endeavour Flyover

WEST SACRAMENTO (CBS13) - Thousands gathered around various spots in the Sacramento area Friday morning to watch the end of an era with the space shuttle Endeavour flying by atop a 747 before retiring to a museum in Los Angeles.

CBS13's Ben Sosenko was out with the crowds as the excitement began to build. It seemed everyone in Sacramento grasped the rarity of the moment.

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see this spaceship," Gloria Vice said. "Just seeing a shuttle in real life for my first time."

Crowds poured into the streets of the Capital City to catch a glimpse of the final space shuttle flight ever.

"We're from a NASA's Explorers School so after we heard about it, we begged our teachers," one student said.

As the moment neared, people were ready with cameras in position.

Then the big moment - Endeavor soaring above Sacramento.

"It makes you want to cry," one spectator said. "It's unbelievable."

The shuttle cruised down the river, turned toward the former McClellan Air Force Base before one last pass over the Capitol.

"You got two different views, so it was great," a spectator said.

And then just like that, it was gone.

It's visit was brief, lasting only a few minutes. But the memory will last forever.

"I've never seen that in person so, no offense to TV stations, but you have to see it in person," Jerry Springer said.

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