California's space shuttle Endeavour now stands tall in a stunning new museum

The California Science Center has officially opened its long-awaited Samuel Oschin Air & Space Center in Los Angeles, featuring the retired space shuttle Endeavour as its centerpiece. After more than 30 years in development, the museum's massive new wing showcases the shuttle in full launch position, standing nearly 200 feet tall—complete with a replica launch tower, interactive exhibits, shuttle cockpit replicas, and spaceflight artifacts spanning decades.

For space enthusiasts and families, this represents a major new destination where visitors can experience space history firsthand. Former astronaut Garrett Reisman, who flew on Endeavour, described the exhibit as "overwhelming" and "surreal," emphasizing its power to inspire future generations. The display allows people to peer inside the shuttle, see its robotic arm, and engage with simulators and interactive tech—making it one of the most immersive space exhibits in the world and a permanent tribute to NASA's shuttle era.