NASA’s shuttle has resided in Los Angeles since 2012, but will soon be showcased permanently at the California Science Center.
The California Science Center has revealed that Endeavour, the last space shuttle from NASA, will be permanently displayed at the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center starting November 13, 2026. This new extension to the science museum, spanning 200,000 square feet, will feature the shuttle alongside an array of 100 artifacts, including numerous unique and historic aerospace items.
Endeavour has been displayed in a horizontal position at the California Science Center since 2012, but this forthcoming exhibit will present the shuttle in an upright launch position, complete with its solid rocket boosters and external tank. In addition to viewing Endeavour, visitors will have the opportunity to ascend a 140-foot gantry elevator that simulates the experience astronauts undergo right before launching into space.
NASA developed the Space Shuttle Endeavour as a replacement after the Challenger disaster in 1986. Beginning its service in 1992, Endeavour participated in numerous missions, including satellite repair, deployment, servicing the Hubble Space Telescope, and transporting astronauts to the International Space Station. After being officially retired in 2011, NASA decided that Endeavour would spend its retirement in Los Angeles, where it arrived in 2012 after a carefully managed 12-mile transit from Los Angeles International Airport to the California Science Center, where it continues to be displayed.
