The Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center brings space history into view at an extraordinary scale. These photos and clips offer a preview of the shuttle gallery, from the engines below to the towering stack above. For kids who love rockets, airplanes or asking how things work, this is an outing to put on the calendar.
A whole new way to see Endeavour
If your family remembers Endeavour’s earlier horizontal display, this will be a very different view. The new center is the only place in the world to see a complete, authentic space shuttle system in launch configuration, with a flown orbiter, boosters and external tank.
Before your visit, show the kids a shuttle-launch video and ask them to spot the orbiter, orange tank and two boosters. At the museum, see whether they can identify those same parts. It is a simple way to turn an enormous object into a conversation about how a spacecraft gets off the ground.
Hands-on highlights for curious kids
Endeavour is the centerpiece, but the new center also includes 100 hands-on exhibits. Among the announced experiences worth exploring:
- Launch Tower. An elevator rises 140 feet to a glass-floor observation platform above the shuttle’s nose.
- Shuttle Descent Slide. A 45-foot descent combines orange light and double-boom audio to evoke a shuttle’s return through the atmosphere.
- Replica flight deck. Explore switches, joysticks and other controls like those used by shuttle pilots.
- Orbiter Landing Simulator. Try bringing Endeavour in for a runway landing.
- More space exploration. Program a rover, try a digital spacesuit or explore an International Space Station fly-through simulation.
Let each child pick one experience they are most curious about before you arrive. That gives the day a little direction without turning it into a checklist.
Plan your family visit
Public opening is Friday, November 13, 2026. General admission to the California Science Center, including the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center, is free. Advance timed reservations for the new center carry a $4 per-person service fee, waived for members. Entry may be limited or unavailable without a reservation, so check the official booking details before setting out.
The Science Center is at 700 Exposition Park Drive in Los Angeles. Regular hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; check the current visitor page for your date. Budget separately for parking, IMAX and any optional experiences rather than assuming the entire outing is included.
A few tips for an easier day
- Check comfort levels. The tower involves heights and a glass floor; the slide includes light and sound effects. If those could be overwhelming, ask staff about current requirements and alternatives before joining a line.
- Leave room to linger. You do not have to try everything. Give kids time to study a detail, repeat an experiment or ask a question.
- Give everyone a small mission. Younger children can look for wings and wheels. Older kids might investigate how astronauts steer or how a shuttle survives its return to Earth.
- Build in breathing room. Allow time around your reservation for travel, arrival and bathroom stops. Keep the rest of the day flexible.
Bring your questions and let the real spacecraft start the conversation. A day with Endeavour could send everyone home with a new favorite part of space exploration.
A closer look at the adventure
Explore more moments from our California Science Center visit, from the flight deck to the towering shuttle stack. Tap any photo to see it larger.
Photos: Family Fun in Cali · California Science Center, Los Angeles
Opening and shuttle display: June 24 announcement. Exhibit and reservation details: California Science Center Foundation’s October 28, 2026 announcement. Check current visitor information before going. Photos and video: Family Fun in Cali. Visitor details checked November 4, 2026. Explore the official Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center page.