Endeavour Upright: LA Air & Space Center Opens Today

Los Angeles just got a serious upgrade for space fans. The Samuel Oschin Air & Space Center at the California Science Center opened its doors to the public today, putting the retired space shuttle Endeavour front and center.

After more than three decades of planning, visitors can now walk in and look up at Endeavour standing upright in launch position. The orbiter towers nearly 200 feet high, and the exhibit lets people get close from multiple angles, including underneath the engines and up a launch tower to the nose.

Interactive bits sit around the base. You can try a shuttle landing simulator, sit in a replica cockpit, check out actual shuttle tires, and poke around other space hardware from different eras. Endeavour itself is open enough to peek inside at the robotic arm and all the straps and gear.

Former NASA astronaut Garrett Reisman, who flew on Endeavour, called the view overwhelming and said it gives people worldwide a chance to bring their kids and share the experience.

What you need to know before you go

• The whole center is free, but you’ll need an online reservation, especially while the buzz is high.
• Plan extra time. The place is built for all ages and has plenty to explore beyond just staring at the shuttle.
• A transparent floor at the top lets you stand above the orbiter if heights don’t bother you.

The new wing also ties back to Endeavour’s 2012 ferry flight over California landmarks, with photos from that final journey on display.

Sources

• Space.com: California’s brand-new Air & Space Center, home of the space shuttle Endeavour, opens today
• NASA: Through NASA’s Lens: Capturing Space Shuttle Endeavour’s Move to LA