EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE (California ) - SPACE shuttle Endeavour has to wait another day to make its cross-country return trip to Florida.

Nasa officials said on Sunday Endeavour's piggyback ride atop a modified jumbo jet was postponed until Tuesday because of bad weather at its first scheduled stop in Texas.

The shuttle was diverted last week on its return from orbit to Edwards Air Force Base in California after stormy weather hit its main Florida landing site.

It was scheduled to leave Sunday but technicians had trouble installing the aerodynamic cone that fits over the back of the shuttle. Then Nasa managers decided to delay it another day after reviewing the weather forecast.

It will cost about $1.8 million (S$3.2 million) to transport the shuttle from California to Florida. -- AP