The California Science Center officially opened the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center to the public on Nov. 13, 2026, offering visitors a view of the Space Shuttle Endeavour stacked upright in launch position.
A Launch-Ready Centerpiece
The centerpiece of the $450 million Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center is the retired orbiter Endeavour, displayed vertically with its external fuel tank and solid rocket boosters as reported by The Spokesman-Review. Standing nearly 200 feet tall, the spacecraft represents the world’s only complete and authentic space shuttle system displayed in launch configuration, according to the California Science Center Foundation.
“It just takes your breath away when you see that reveal and the doors open and you get to look at it for the first time. It's just — it's overwhelming,” former NASA astronaut Garrett Reisman told Space.com.
Endeavour flew 25 missions between 1992 and 2011 before its retirement and eventual transport to Los Angeles in 2012. The grand opening of the new 200,000-square-foot wing marks the final phase of the institution’s three-decade master plan, as detailed by Beverly Press & Park Labrea News.
The 172,000-pound spacecraft was brought to Southern California following a proposal by Ken Phillips, curator for Aerospace Science at the California Science Center and Adjunct Professor of Physics and Astronomy at USC. Phillips said that the institution made a promise to NASA upon receiving the orbiter to treat the vehicle with respect and create something spectacular.
The new wing’s galleries also feature an accompanying photo exhibit titled “Endeavour's Long Journey,” which documents the spacecraft’s final flight over California, its 12-mile, 68-hour trip through the streets of Los Angeles and Inglewood, and the six-month multi-phase stacking process of its components.
Astronauts and Officials Celebrate the Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony
Approximately 30 astronauts attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony, including the six-member crew of Endeavour’s final mission, STS-134. U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), who commanded that final flight, joined local leaders and hundreds of schoolchildren for the debut.
“From Los Angeles to Silicon Valley, California has long been at the forefront of innovation and scientific discovery,” Senator Alex Padilla said.
Now, generations of kids will get to look up at Endeavour and be inspired to dream big and do hard things.
Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Arizona
“I was fortunate to command Endeavour on its final mission, and I know firsthand what this spacecraft represents: American ingenuity and the determination to do things that once seemed impossible,” Senator Mark Kelly said, reflecting on his history with the spacecraft and noting that his first flight aboard Endeavour occurred in December 2001, as reported by NBC Los Angeles.
Federal lawmakers, including Senators Adam Schiff and Ben Ray Luján, have previously advocated for space exploration initiatives alongside Padilla and Kelly.
California Governor Gavin Newsom also toured the exhibits during a preview event, discussing the shuttle with Science Center President and CEO Jeffrey Rudolph, according to the Los Angeles Daily News. Lynda Oschin, chairwoman of the board and secretary of the Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Oschin Family Foundation, joined leaders to celebrate the debut alongside other foundation supporters.
Retired NASA astronaut John “Danny” Olivas, who flew two shuttle missions and advised on the Oschin Center, said that the facility shares majestic views of the orbiter once reserved only for NASA engineers, astronauts, and their families. Former astronaut Daniel Bursch, who flew to the International Space Station aboard Endeavour in 2001, also attended and said that seeing the authentic hardware is unmatched except for riding it into space.
Aerospace Artifacts and Hands-On Exhibits Feature in Multilevel Galleries
The facility houses more than 100 aerospace artifacts and 100 hands-on exhibits distributed across multilevel galleries, including the Samuel Oschin Shuttle Gallery, the Korean Air Aviation Gallery, and the Kent Kresa Space Gallery, Mynewsla reported.
Another feature is a 45-foot tubular metal descent slide where schoolchildren were welcomed by co-creator Chuck Lorre and actor Iain Armitage, as noted by Yahoo News.
General admission to the Science Center remains free, though timed reservations with a $4 service fee are required for the new air and space wing due to anticipated demand, according to Mynewsla. The facility is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., except on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.
