California Science Center previews Endeavour's new home ahead of opening

The California Science Center has previewed a 200,000-square-foot expansion featuring space shuttle Endeavour standing upright in launch configuration, ABC7 Los Angeles reported. The Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center opens to the public Nov. 13 at 10 a.m.

The expansion nearly doubles the science center's exhibition space, adding aircraft, rockets and hands-on activities. Museum leaders say the project is intended to encourage future generations to pursue science, technology and engineering.

Endeavour is paired with authentic solid rocket boosters and ET-94, which ABC7 Los Angeles described as the last flight-qualified external tank still in existence. According to the California Science Center, no other location offers a view of a complete shuttle system assembled entirely from authentic flight hardware.

The project required crews to construct the building around the shuttle. Structural engineer Amie Nulman said crews first raised part of the concrete structure, allowed Endeavour to be joined to the stack and then installed a steel diagrid roof overhead, ABC7 reported.

The expansion at Exposition Park includes three multilevel galleries: the Samuel Oschin Shuttle Gallery, Korean Air Aviation Gallery and Kent Kresa Space Gallery. The center has 100 artifacts and 100 hands-on exhibits focused on science, technology and engineering, along with a two-story slide.

The preview comes 14 years after Endeavour arrived in Los Angeles, according to ABC7. Jeff Rudolph, the science center's president and CEO, said the display is intended to inspire future scientists, engineers and explorers.

General admission to the California Science Center remains free. Reservations for the new center are strongly encouraged, with a $4 reservation service fee per person that is waived for science center members.

Visitors planning to see the new center without an advance reservation may face limited entry, ABC7 reported.