Space Shuttle Endeavour Opens in Launch Position at the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center | November 13, 2026
Remember when Endeavour crept through LA streets in 2012 and the whole city came out to watch? That was just the beginning. The Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center opens at the California Science Center on November 13, 2026 — and it’s the only place on Earth where you can stand at the base of a complete, authentic shuttle stack in full launch position. Start watching for timed reservations. You’ll want to grab them early.
What’s Inside the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center?
Three galleries, 100 aerospace artifacts, 100 hands-on exhibits, and one very tall centerpiece.
- ✔️ Samuel Oschin Shuttle Gallery — A 20-story building where Endeavour stands fully upright, mated to real solid rocket boosters and ET-94, the last surviving flight-qualified external tank. Most museums display their shuttles horizontally. This one had a building constructed around Endeavour specifically so it could stand the way it was always meant to.
- ✔️ Korean Air Aviation Gallery — Covers the history of flight, with a Harrier jet already installed.
- ✔️ Kent Kresa Space Gallery — Modern space exploration, with a Rocket Lab Electron launch vehicle, a Space Shuttle Main Engine, and a solid rocket booster segment that visitors will eventually be able to walk through.
What Kids Will Love
- ✔️ Gantry elevator — Ride 140 feet up alongside the shuttle stack, the same elevation astronauts reached on launch day.
- ✔️ Descent slide — 45 feet down, 115 feet long, with orange plasma light and a double sonic boom effect built in. Kids are going to want to do it more than once.
- ✔️ Replica flight deck — Sit in the commander’s seat and work the actual controls — joysticks, switches, pedals.
Check the California Science Center’s website for any age or height requirements on the elevator and slide before you visit.
Why This Is Such a Big Deal for LA Families
So much of the shuttle program’s story runs through California — the engineers, the manufacturers, the mission crews. Seeing Endeavour displayed the way it was built to be seen, right here in Exposition Park, is something Southern California families have been waiting on for a long time.
Kids who were toddlers during Endeavour’s 2012 journey through LA are in middle school now. This is a genuinely great chance to bring them back to it.
Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center
📍 California Science Center, 700 Exposition Park Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90037
📅 Opens November 13, 2026 | Open daily 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
🎫 General admission is FREE. Timed reservations require a small service fee — check CaliforniaScienceCenter.org for when booking opens.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it actually free?
General admission is free. Timed reservations carry a small service fee. Book as early as you can — this is going to be a popular one.
When do reservations open?
Not announced yet. Keep an eye on CaliforniaScienceCenter.org for updates.
What ages is this good for?
All of them. Younger kids will love the flight deck replica and the slide; older kids and adults will get a lot out of the mission history exhibits. Check the Science Center’s site for any height or age requirements on the elevator and slide.
Is it just the shuttle?
No — three galleries cover aviation history and current-generation space exploration too. Plan for at least half a day.
Is the shuttle really standing straight up?
185 feet tall, with the real boosters and the last remaining flight-qualified external tank. It’s the only display like it in the world.
What else is nearby?
CAAM and the Natural History Museum of LA are both in Exposition Park — easy to make a full day out of it.
Official Sources and Further Information
Categories: Blog
This post was written by Kidsguide
