Space Shuttle Endeavour's new LA home opens to the public at California Science Center

Key Points:

• The California Science Center in Los Angeles opened the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center, featuring the space shuttle Endeavour displayed in a nearly 200-foot-tall launch configuration with authentic solid rocket boosters and an external tank.
• The new 200,000-square-foot expansion nearly doubles the Science Center's exhibit space and includes 100 aerospace artifacts and hands-on exhibits focused on science and engineering, including shuttle simulators and a glass-floor observation platform above the orbiter.
• The center houses three multilevel galleries: the Samuel Oschin Shuttle Gallery, Korean Air Aviation Gallery with aircraft and a flight simulator, and the Kent Kresa Space Gallery with flown spacecraft and NASA-developed exhibits.
• During the grand opening weekend, free astronaut and aerospace talks are held every half-hour, covering topics like women in space and mission overviews, with presentations by astronauts and NASA experts.
• General admission to the Science Center is free, but timed reservations with a $4 service fee (waived for members) are required for the new Air and Space Center due to high demand; the center operates daily except major holidays.