The California Science Center will open a new permanent exhibit featuring the retired Space Shuttle Endeavour in a vertical, ready-to-launch configuration [1].

This installation represents a significant shift in how the public interacts with NASA's shuttle program. By presenting the orbiter as it appeared during liftoff rather than in a horizontal landing position, the museum aims to provide a more immersive educational experience regarding the physics and scale of space flight [1, 2].

The exhibit is located within the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center in Los Angeles [1, 3]. To accommodate the massive scale of the shuttle and its support structures, the museum constructed a new addition totaling 200,000 square feet [4]. This expansion allows the shuttle to be displayed at a height of approximately 20 stories [2].

Scheduled to open to the public on Nov. 13, 2026 [2, 4, 5], the display is designed to preserve the historic spacecraft for future generations [1, 2]. The vertical orientation is a unique choice for shuttle exhibits, intended to celebrate the program's legacy by simulating the tension and power of a launch sequence [1].

Visitors will be able to view the orbiter from multiple angles within the new facility. The project emphasizes the engineering required to move and secure the shuttle in such a demanding position, a feat that required extensive planning and a specialized facility to support the weight of the vehicle [1, 3].

“The retired space shuttle will be shown in a ready-to-launch configuration.”

The decision to display Endeavour vertically rather than horizontally marks a departure from traditional museum curation of spacecraft. By recreating the launch configuration, the California Science Center shifts the focus from the shuttle's role as a glider during reentry to its identity as a powerful launch vehicle, potentially increasing the exhibit's educational impact on aerospace engineering.