Science Center to Open Space Gallery on November 13

The new facility in Los Angeles will feature the space shuttle Endeavour in a full vertical flight configuration.

Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Space

Science Center to Open Space Gallery on November 13

Live Poll

Do you believe massive investments in local museums are worth the cost for your community?

The Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center will open to the public in Los Angeles on November 13, 2026. The new 200,000-square-foot expansion allows visitors to view the space shuttle Endeavour in a complete, vertical flight configuration.

Why it matters

This expansion provides the public with a unique opportunity to view a complete, authentic space shuttle system. The opening marks a major milestone for the California Science Center, which received the orbiter from NASA in 2011.

The 200,000-square-foot facility houses a stack comprised of the orbiter, two solid rocket boosters, and the ET-94 external fuel tank. The external tank alone maintains a propellant capacity of 1,629,577 pounds when fully loaded.

The players

Endeavour

This space shuttle completed 25 missions throughout its service life in the NASA shuttle program.

California Science Center

This educational institution located in Exposition Park hosts the new Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center.

NASA

This federal agency operates the national space program and previously transferred ownership of the shuttle to the center.

Rodolfo Neri Vela

He was the first Mexican astronaut to fly into space and famously brought tortillas on his mission.

John Daniel Olivas

He is a former NASA astronaut selected for the space program in 1998.

The details

Engineers utilized yellow torque tubes to support the orbiter's payload bay doors, preventing structural warping during the display process. The entire crew from the final 2011 mission of the Endeavour is expected to attend the inaugural event.

1985: Rodolfo Neri Vela brought the first tortillas into space.
1998: NASA selected John Daniel Olivas as an astronaut candidate.
October 11, 2011: NASA transferred ownership of the shuttle to the California Science Center.
2011: The Endeavour flew its last mission.
November 13, 2026: The center opens to the public.

The Big Picture

The center marks a transition from active flight missions to the permanent preservation of the shuttle system following the 2011 Space Shuttle program conclusion. This exhibit ensures that the hardware representing decades of space flight remains accessible to future generations of researchers.

Visitors will gain rare access to the engineering complexity of the shuttle system, including the support mechanisms designed to maintain the integrity of the orbiter. This display provides a tangible look at the 17,000 mile-per-hour vehicles that defined human space exploration.

The takeaway

The opening of this facility highlights the historical significance of the 355-member astronaut corps and their contributions to orbital flight. Residents and visitors can prepare for the opening by reviewing the history of the shuttle program to better appreciate the scale of the displayed hardware.