Space shuttle Endeavour reaches Los Angeles destination

The space shuttle Endeavour experienced fits and starts over the weekend as it inched its way on city streets from Los Angeles International Airport to its permanent home at the California Science Center.

Update at 4:47 p.m. ET:

Sixteen hours behind schedule, the space shuttle Endeavour arrived at its new home at the California Science Center, the Los Angeles Times reports.

"Mission 26 - Mission Accomplished," the Times quoted Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa as saying at a news conference Sunday at Exposition Park.

"Today, everyone in the city of Los Angeles is an astronaut," city fire chief Brian Cummings said.

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Earlier, the shuttle came to a halt at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum while thousands chanted, "Let's go, let's go!" and "So close, so close," the Times reports.

Jeffrey Rudolph, president of the California Science Center, estimated that "seven figure" crowds have come out to see the shuttle in the last two days, the Times reports.

The shuttle, which weighs 85 tons, has experienced fits and starts in the last leg of its two-day, 12-mile trip from Los Angeles International Airport, which has included wings coming within inches of trees and utility poles, the Times reports.

Seeing the craft was special and impressive, Donna Rosen of Santa Clarita, Calif., told the Times.

"I didn't know it was on my bucket list, but it's one of the coolest things I've ever seen," said Rosen, 61.