Space Shuttle Endeavour's Vertical Display to Open in November 2026

The California Science Center in Los Angeles has announced that the new Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center will open on Friday, November 13, 2026, with the space shuttle Endeavour displayed in a vertical launch position as its centerpiece. The 184-foot-tall (56-meter) stack, consisting of the orbiter, external tank, and twin solid rocket boosters, is believed to be the tallest indoor museum exhibit in the world.

Building the exhibit took four years and presented a significant engineering challenge, as it was accomplished without using NASA's specialized facilities. Dennis Jenkins, a former space shuttle engineer who served as project director, admitted initial uncertainty about feasibility but noted that the solution worked well.

Visitors will be able to view Endeavour from multiple levels and take a glass elevator up a gantry tower for a top-down perspective. Before the reveal, a short film will recount Endeavour's history, and the room will fill with fog before the wall drops to reveal the massive shuttle stack.

The center also includes the Korean Air Aviation Gallery and the Kent Kresa Space Gallery, featuring over 25 aircraft and historic spacecraft. Lynda Oschin, whose family foundation made the lead donation, expressed excitement, noting that her husband's photo is placed inside Endeavour's flight deck as a tribute.