EXPOSITION PARK, LOS ANGELES — The California Science Center officially opened its new Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center to the public on Friday, showcasing the space shuttle Endeavour in a nearly 200-foot-tall launch configuration, complete with solid rocket boosters and an external tank. This exhibit is presented as the only authentic and complete space shuttle system available for public viewing in the world.
The opening festivities included a morning program followed by a 10 a.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony at the center located at 700 Exposition Park Drive. The expansion increases the Science Center’s exhibit space by nearly 200,000 square feet.
Visitors can explore a variety of features in the new center, which houses more than 100 aerospace artifacts and 100 hands-on exhibits related to science and engineering. A highlight of the center is the shuttle gallery, which allows guests to take a 140-foot elevator ride up a launch stack to a glass-floor observation platform positioned above Endeavour.
Interactive exhibits invite guests to try out a shuttle landing simulator, sit in a replica of the flight deck, and slide down a 45-foot slide designed to simulate the shuttle’s re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere.
The Air and Space Center includes three multilevel galleries: the Samuel Oschin Shuttle Gallery, the Korean Air Aviation Gallery, and the Kent Kresa Space Gallery. The aviation gallery features more than a dozen aircraft, including gliders and fighter jets, along with part of a Korean Air Boeing 747-400, which allows visitors to experience a five-minute simulated flight from Los Angeles to Seoul.
The space gallery exhibits flown spacecraft, including the Mercury-Redstone 2 capsule, the Gemini 11 capsule, and the Apollo-Soyuz Command Module. There are also displays created in collaboration with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, including models and hands-on activities focused on six decades of robotic exploration.
During the grand opening weekend, which runs through Sunday, the Science Center plans to host free talks led by astronauts and experts. These sessions will cover a range of topics, including women in space and mission overviews, occurring every half-hour, with the last talk scheduled for 4 p.m.
A photo exhibit titled “Endeavour’s Long Journey,” documenting the shuttle’s final flight over California, will be available in the Weingart Foundation Special Exhibits Gallery on the third floor, included with general admission. General admission is free, but timed reservations are required for entry into the new center due to expected high demand. A $4 service fee for reservations is waived for Science Center members and those making same-day, in-person reservations.
The Air and Space Center will operate daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the exception of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.
