CALIFORNIA SCIENCE CENTER TO OPEN THE SAMUEL OSCHIN AIR AND SPACE CENTER ON NOVEMBER 13, 2026 | News

The California Science Center today announced that the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center, permanent home of Space Shuttle Endeavor, will soon be ready for launch, with an opening date of November 13, 2026. Chairman of the Mr. and Mrs. Oschin Family Foundation Mrs. Lynda Oschin, Los Angeles County Supervisor for the 2nd District, Holly Mitchell, and former NASA astronaut, John “Danny” Olivas, joined California Science Center President and CEO Jeffrey Rudolph to make the announcement in the Samuel Oschin Shuttle Gallery.

The Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center will be the only place in the world to see a complete, authentic Space Shuttle system, displayed in a 20-story launch bay. This transformative 200,000-square-foot expansion of the California Science Center will nearly double the exhibit space, featuring a diverse collection of 100 artifacts, including rare and historic space objects, as well as 100 new hands-on exhibits, featuring interactive experiences focused on science and engineering.

“California has always been a place of discovery – from the early pioneers of aviation to the engineers, astronauts, scientists and innovators who helped shape the Space Age and who today are powering the next age of exploration. The new Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center reflects our state’s enduring commitment to science, education and innovation, and it will inspire students of all ages for generations to come,” said Governor Gavin Newsom. “On behalf of the people of California, I thank everyone who worked so hard to make this world-class aerospace center a reality, including the philanthropic partners whose support helped bring this extraordinary vision to completion.”

Guests of all ages are encouraged to explore the scientific and engineering principles of atmospheric flight and the exploration of the universe in three multi-level galleries: the Samuel Oschin Shuttle Gallery, the Korean Air Aviation Gallery and the Kent Kresa Space Gallery. The Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center is the third and final major phase of the California Science Center’s three-phase, three-decade master plan to develop one of the world’s leading science learning centers.

“Space Shuttle Endeavor captivated millions during its flight from Florida and around California and then its historic overland journey from LAX to the California Science Center in 2012. The Space Shuttle Endeavor then inspired millions more while on display for more than a decade. With Endeavor’s exhibit in launch position, the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center will provide us with a larger platform than ever to accomplish our mission, to stimulate curiosity and inspire science learning in all,” said Jeffrey Rudolph, president and CEO of the California Science Center. “It is the fulfillment of a decades-long dream and will be a lasting source of inspiration for generations of scientists, engineers and explorers.”

The Samuel Oschin Shuttle Gallery serves as the centerpiece of the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center. The gallery, which houses Space Shuttle Endeavor in launch position, towers nearly 200 feet high and will detail how the world’s first reusable spacecraft advanced our ability to live and work in low Earth orbit while laying the foundation for increasingly ambitious missions in deep space. In addition to preserving a crucial chapter in space exploration, the gallery will also provide an unparalleled educational experience, allowing guests to view this national treasure and engineering marvel from multiple perspectives and heights. Additional exhibits in the gallery highlight all 135 Space Shuttle missions, the thermal protection system, and tributes to the crews and rescue personnel who died during the Shuttle program.

“When I first saw schoolchildren respond with such enthusiasm to Endeavor’s astronauts, I recognized its extraordinary potential to spark curiosity, encourage lifelong learning and open new worlds of possibilities for young people. Now that the opening date for the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center has been announced, it is incredibly exciting to watch the vision become a reality,” said Lynda Oschin, President of the Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Oschin Family Foundation. “It is a beautiful tribute to my late husband, Samuel Oschin, and a lasting gift that will encourage learning and discovery for generations to come.”

Although the Space Shuttle stack itself is complete, the California Science Center has months of installation work on artifacts and exhibits before the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center is ready for launch in November. Once open, the Samuel Oschin Shuttle Gallery invites guests to interactive experiences including:

A 44-meter climb aboard a portal-style elevator along the shuttle stack, evoking the experience of astronauts preparing for launch.
The Shuttle Descent Slide drops 45 feet in height down a 115-foot-long tubular slide that represents the shuttle’s landing. Guests will see bright orange light representing the plasma that glows as a shuttle reenters the atmosphere and hear a double boom that evokes the sound of the nose and tail as both break the sound barrier upon return to Earth.
The ability to sit in a replica of the cockpit and interact with joysticks, switches, lights, buttons and pedals like those that the shuttle commander and pilot would operate.
This announcement is the latest in a series of exciting recent milestones in the development of the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center. In early 2024, the Space Shuttle Endeavor was lifted to a height of 180 feet in its vertical full-stack configuration, coupled with real solid rocket boosters and ET-94, the last remaining flight-qualified external tank, and installed in its permanent home in the Samuel Oschin Shuttle Gallery, at the end of a six-month process known as Go for Stack. In September 2025, the Hawker Siddeley Harrier T.4 fighter jet was announced as the first artifact to be installed in the Korean Air Aviation Gallery. And the first artifacts in the Kent Kresa Space Gallery were announced in November 2025, with the installation of the Rocket Lab Electron launch vehicle alongside a Solid Rocket Booster segment for a future walk-through experience and the Space Shuttle Main Engine.

California Science Center Project Director Dennis R. Jenkins manages the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center project, assembling the team that installed the space shuttle stack and overseeing the construction team that includes architect ZGF, engineer Arup, general contractor MATT Construction, steel fabricator Plas-Tal Manufacturing, scaffolding and shuttle protection by BrandSafway, and exhibit design by Evidence Design.

This incredible educational and social achievement has been made possible by the incredible support of lead donors, the Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Oschin Family Foundation and the State of California; major donors Korean Air and the Kresa Family Foundation; as well as the Ahmanson Foundation, Thomas and Dorothy Leavey Foundation, WM Keck Foundation, The Chuck Lorre Family Foundation, Melanie and Richard Lundquist, The Otis Booth Foundation, Weingart Foundation and Ibrahim El-Hefni Technical Training Foundation. The California Science Center Foundation is grateful for their substantial investments, which, together with the support of more than 1,100 donors, total nearly $410 million toward the $450 million project budget.

The California Science Center believes that science education is critical for all and values ​​accessibility and inclusivity. General admission to the California Science Center, which includes the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center, is free. Due to expected high demand, there will be temporary reservations for admission to the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center, which can be made in advance for a small service fee. Visit CaliforniaScienceCenter.org for updates on when timed reservations become available.