Endeavour lifts off for the last time PICTURE: Reuters

Nearly half a million people rocked-up to wave goodbye to space shuttle Endeavour as she blasted off the launch pad at Cape Canaveral on her last mission.

AP reports that 45 000 people – VIPs and ticket holders – managed to cram themselves onto the launch site while another 450 000 or so jammed the surrounding roads before the launch this morning.

The shuttle is en route to the International Space Station (ISS) to deliver a $2 billion device which scientists will use to search for antimatter in the universe.

The mission commander on Endeavour’s final flight is Mark Kelly whose wife, Arizona congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, survived an assassination attempt four months ago. Giffords, making what doctors say is a remarkable recovery, was present at the launch.

In 19 years of service Endeavour has flown 185 million kilometres and orbited earth 4 500 times.

The final launch of America’s expensive but successful space shuttle programme will take place in July when orbiter Atlantis blasts off from NASA’s Florida space centre for the last time.

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