LOS ANGELES — Construction has been completed on the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center at the California Science Center, marking a major milestone in a multi-year effort to create a permanent home for the historic Space Shuttle Endeavour.
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After four years of construction, the facility will serve as a centerpiece for aerospace education and public engagement, though officials say several months of work remain before the center can open to visitors. Crews are now focused on installing exhibits, artifacts and interactive displays throughout the building.
According to a statement from the science center, the new facility will feature approximately 100 aerospace artifacts and 100 hands-on exhibits designed to promote science learning and exploration. The center will also offer a unique viewing experience of the space shuttle.
“Through an impressive collection of 100 aerospace artifacts integrated with 100 new hands-on exhibits, the Air and Space Center will showcase authentic aircraft and spacecraft to encourage active learning through discovery; and will be the only place in the world to see an authentic space shuttle system exhibited as if ‘ready-for-launch’ in a towering vertical display,” the statement said.
A defining feature of the project is the vertical display of Space Shuttle Endeavour, positioned in a launch-ready configuration within the new structure. The installation required a complex, multi-phase process known as “Go for Stack,” during which each component of the shuttle system was carefully assembled and lifted into place.
The display rises approximately 20 stories, making it one of the most technically ambitious museum installations of its kind. The configuration is intended to replicate the shuttle’s launch posture, offering visitors a rare and immersive perspective on spaceflight.
The project significantly expands the California Science Center’s capacity to showcase aerospace history and technology, transforming it into a premier destination for science education.
Center leadership emphasized the long-term impact of the new facility, which has been years in development.
“Through the development of the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center, the California Science Center is fulfilling a decades-long dream,” said Jeffrey Rudolph, president and CEO of the center. “This amazing project significantly expands our ability to accomplish our mission, to stimulate curiosity and inspire science learning in everyone, on a scale and with an impact unlike anything in our history. The Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center will stand as an enduring source of inspiration for generations of scientists, engineers, and explorers — and we cannot wait to share it with the world.”
Once completed, the center is expected to draw visitors from across the country and internationally, further boosting Los Angeles’ cultural and educational offerings.
While an official opening date has not yet been announced, the completion of construction marks a significant step forward for the project, with final preparations now underway to bring the new facility online.
Originally reported by Los Angels Daily News.
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