Space Shuttle Endeavour Unveiled Today in Los Angeles, California

 Hey, Space Placers!

Space Shuttle Endeavour Unveiled

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GREG REDFERN

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CSC DISPLAY VIDEO

Thirty years ago the staff of the California Science Center  https://californiasciencecenter.org/   ,   located near the heart of Los Angeles, California, had a vision of one day bringing a space shuttle to the City of Angels. The dream was part of a three part plan that today was finally fulfilled as Space Shuttle Endeavour https://www.nasa.gov/space-shuttle/  was unveiled in a in launch configuration during a well attended press conference at the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center.

Today also marked the completion of a decades long quest by me to photograph all remaining space shuttles:

Endeavour; 

Atlantis - Kennedy Space Center  https://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/  , Florida, displayed         in an on orbit configuration;

Discovery - National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center  https://www.si.edu/museums/air-and-space-museum-udvar-hazy-center  , Chantilly, Virginia,                         displayed in a Wheels Stopped configuration;

Enterprise - U.S.S. Intrepid Museum https://intrepidmuseum.org/exhibitions/permanent-exhibitions/space-shuttle-pavilion  , New York City, New York, static display; used for Space         Shuttle unpowered flight tests to prove ability to maneuver and land;

Independence https://spacecenter.org/exhibits-and-experiences/independence/ - Johnson                   Space Center, Houston, Texas; full scale mock up attached to the 747                                          Space Shuttle Carrier Aircraft. 

The last time I saw Endeavour was when she was launched January 22, 1998, at night to the Russian Mir Space Station for STS-89  https://www.nasa.gov/mission/sts-89/ . What an unforgettable sight and experience that was!

With $410 million dollars raised out of a goal of $450 million dollars, CSC is putting the final touches on their newest expansion that will include over 100 hands on exhibits related to the Space Shuttle era.

From their press release today https://californiasciencecenter.org/press-room/pressrelease/2026-06-24/california-science-center-to-open-the-samuel-oschin-air-and  it was announced that the public will be able to see the new exhibit November 13, 2026 and that “the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center will be the only place in the world to see a complete, authentic space shuttle system, displayed in a 20-story launch position. This transformative 200,000-square-foot expansion of the California Science Center will nearly double its exhibit space, showcasing a diverse collection of 100 artifacts, including rare and historic aerospace objects, as well as 100 new hands-on exhibits, featuring interactive experiences focused on science and engineering.”

This is a truly amazing story that started in 2012 when Endeavour flew to LA on the back of NASA’s 747. A Toyota Tundra truck, on display in the CSC parking lot, towed Endeavour through the tight squeeze of city streets to its new home. She remained on static display until, as explained in today’s press release, “In early 2024, Space Shuttle Endeavour was lifted into its full stack vertical configuration at 185 feet tall, mated to real solid rocket boosters and ET-94, the last remaining flight-qualified external tank, and installed in its permanent home in the Samuel Oschin Shuttle Gallery, at the conclusion of a six-month process known as Go for Stack”.

The stack had to be assembled first and was wrapped in a weatherproof covering while the building surrounding it was constructed. This is the only stacking of a space shuttle ever conducted outside of a NASA facility. I can tell you from my experience today it is a breathtaking display.

If you ever get to LA - or any of the other space shuttle displays - you owe it to yourself to see these remarkable exhibitions. I know I am looking forward to seeing CSC’s completed project.

Sky Guy in LA