Space Shuttle Endeavour

This exhibit has special meaning for me, due to the fact that my recently deceased dad, was hands on, a part of its manufacturing. Before his retirement, dad worked heat treatment for Rocketdyne; a rocket engine design division of North American, later Rockwell, in Canoga Park, CA. From the 1950s until the 1990s, before being bought by Boeing, during his over 35 year career, dad worked on virtually every major NASA aerospace program; including Mercury, Gemini, Apollo and the Space Shuttle Mission. I was delighted to hear during his last few months, that he was able to see this exhibit before his passing. Those engine displays touched him deeply, so I thought this only fitting as my 200^th review.
One is in awe when seeing the sheer size of the Endeavour up close, located in the California Science Center in Exposition Park. You can even walk under it. When its permanent home is completed, hopefully we’ll be able to see inside and maybe even walk through parts of it. But until then, still a pretty inspiring and moving experience. A triumph for Los Angeles, to win out over other cities to make it the Endeavour’s final home. And quite fitting, being America’s second largest city and an historic aerospace hub. I even got to witness its grand flyover of the Greater Los Angeles area before its much publicized parade through our streets. I was standing on Los Feliz Blvd, as it buzzed the Griffith Observatory multiple times atop a 747, surrounded by fighter jets.
Welcome home Endeavour!

Wonderful experience. The shuttle is impressive but don’t miss the pictures on the second floor promenade, they show it being transported and they are quite fantastic.

When I was invited to a birthday party at the California Science Center, I never imagined that the celebration would include BEING IN THE SAME ROOM as the Space Shuttle Endeavor! All I was thinking was, «Wow! You Californians throw extravagant parties»!
I was just told to go to the Science Center. For $ 2 more, we were given the option of viewing the Space Shuttle. Not really knowing what this entailed, I joined in… and WHOA! When I entered the gigantic hangar, I almost fell down in awe. IT’S MASSIVE! My friend, Lyla, said that when she happened to be in town, the trees along the route to the California Science Center had to be cut (and some trees were even removed) to make a path for the Space Shuttle! It’s that wide!
There was a docent who had some of the materials from the Endeavor. It was such a treat to see the tiles up close and touch them! It’s so amazing to think that this structure defied gravity and traveled outside of our atmosphere! Mind-​blowing!
If you get a chance to go, you may want to go soon before the exhibit changes. They are in the process of building a structure so that visitors can climb up and view the Space Shuttle in an upright position as if ready for launching. I’d like to see that, too!

I’ve always wanted to see the space shuttle Endeavour since it made its last permanent stop in Los Angeles. The California Science Center is a really nice museum, perfect for educational fun for both the young and old. One can walk through numerous scientific and environmental exhibits and topics of learning prior to entering the space shuttle on display. When you do arrive at Endeavour, you automatically see its grand spectacular presence which is both fascinating and somewhat surreal. Surrounding walls are covered with rich history dating back to the earliest of NASA space shuttle missions all the way to the present. Gift shops with fun toys, souvenirs and apparel are throughout the museum. There’s lots of parking and access is easy. Just remember to pre-​book you free exhibit time & reservation for the space shuttle Endeavour prior to going. That definitely works the best for guaranteed easy entry.

This is a real space shuttle. Mic drop. Fade to black. Stop reading this review now and head here immediately. If you do not live in Los Angeles, start driving here now.
The Space Shuttle Endeavour is located at the California Science Center which is a great place already, but this large hangar at Exposition Park is home to one of the most impressive things you will see in Los Angeles.
You start your journey navigating through some static displays which are very interesting. How do you poop in space? Then you can watch the video of the shuttle driving through Los Angeles which was very impressive and a feat of engineering in its own right. After that great introduction, you enter the hangar and immediately are awe struck with this piece of space history. It is massive and almost too emotional to see this in person. Linger around taking pictures and talking with the staff.
The exhibit can get crowded requiring advanced tickets and reservations, but I just walked in on a weekday afternoon and had the place to myself. Absolutely impressive and highly recommended for everyone.

Always awesome to see a piece of American space history. Would have been nice to go inside or otherwise interact with it more, but it was cool to see nonetheless.

A trip to the Science Center is always free for students so I get stuck going regularly. As much as I can’t stand going, I enjoyed and appreciated seeing the space shuttle exhibit. The cool makeshift museum was pretty fascinating. The vivid pictures along the walls, the memorabilia, and actual materials in which the space shuttle is made, all made the trip worthwhile. There were a few people inside that helped answer a few questions and allowed the kids and me to touch a few items. Pretty neat. If only I could’ve stepped inside the shuttle, that would have been the icing on the cake.

It was such an awesome experience to see the space shuttle up close and in person. Just the massive size of it and seeing all the little details on the outer skin/​shell, the markings and lables etc…
Also on display is one of the jet engines/​rockets that plays part in providing the ½ million pounds of thrust this machine produces to propel into space. It’s crazy to see it and think about all the scientists and engineers who worked timeless hours and were able to create this precision instrument and of course they’re your tax dollars at work ;)

Amazing exhibit! I first went here and saw the Space Shuttle Endeavour on a school field trip with our son. I chaperoned some kids from his class and I personally enjoyed it with them! It is free to enter the Science Center but it costs to see the Space Shuttle… which was well worth it!!! Came back with the rest of the family and our son was able to play tour guide for his sister and his dad. It was still awesome to see the space shuttle for the second time around. And I got to see and learn more on our visit as a family. We practically spent the whole day there when we took our daughter with us! She’s the scientist in the family!
I definitely recommend to spend the money to see the space shuttle… every penny spent is worth it!

It is such a cool exhibit and it’s only going to get better in the years to come! It is is a $ 2 ticket. It cover the inside informative exhibit walk through and the outside hanger for your chance to look at endeavour.
The inside exhibit shows give you a close look at the tires that have to be changed with each landing, as well as the toilets they use, and the rehydration station they need for food. There are cool videos to watch, especially the last one in which you can see how t he you maneuvered through the streets of la.
Now for the main attraction, you exit the the information part and go down the stairs to the hanger outside. You have to make sure that you still have your ticket as people try going in without tickets. It is such a beautiful space shuttle. It’s huge!!! They also have the workshop on display for you to look at.
The staff there is really friendly, and I know that it the next few years they will redesign the exhibit to include the external tank and look like it’s ready for launch… that will be cool and I can’t wait to visit that in the future!!!

+ Can’t beat $ 2 ticket prices
+ Informative exhibit
I’ve been wanting to see the Endeavor ever since it «landed» at its final resting place a little while back. The $ 2 entrance fee at the Science Center was definitely worth it. Seeing it up close was a great experience and I recommend it to anyone who hasn’t seen it yet.
The exhibit has a first part inside the Science Center where there are some informational setups/​displays which is pretty cool too.

Finally was able to make here to see the United States Endeavour shuttle, before there seemed to be huge long lines to go in but now it has died down. For only $ 4 you are able to go in and literally almost touch America’s last space shuttle. The videos, pictures and stories of our last space shuttle being shipped through Los Angeles’s busy streets are quite remarkable. To even comprehend the amount of planning and logistics that went into making all of this possible is amazing. I really enjoyed viewing this exhibit and it is definitely something worth your time seeing if you are in the area of LA’s science museum. Parking is $ 10 and on the weekends this place gets really busy, because the museum has free admission but like I said viewing the shuttle is extra and its for a good cause. Hopefully all this attention will get the government to fund more shuttle missions in the future.

What an awesome sight to behold! I remember seeing this shuttle being brought to the museum and always wanted to check it out but never had the opportunity to do so. We got in for free so this was a bonus for us. This was amazing to see whether you are a fan of space or not. I think all types of people and ages should come to just explore and check out the shuttle. Who knew the bottom of the shuttle was made of pieces rather one whole unit. It’s such a large spacecraft.
You can take a picture once you enter (which has the best spot to take a full picture of the shuttle) and then you can walk up to it and underneath it to check out the the tiles. Of course one can’t touch it but one can get pretty close to it. Staff here are nice and very helpful if you have questions or want to learn more about the shuttle. There’s also a small shop next to the shuttle where you can buy adorable shuttle/​Space themed souvenirs and items. What’s great about this exhibition is that you can easily leave and go check out other things in the museum. All in one place.

Endeavor is being displayed at California Science center for $ 2. It is a must see whether you’re a space fan or not. I’m not a science or space person but it makes you appreciate what other science folks are doing.
You can see all the details or how this spaceship was made. It is very different from a commercial airplane. If you look up close, it’s made of tiles of non flammable things.

How cool is it to see the Space Shuttle Endeavor up close? 25 missions accomplished during its 19 years of operation, over 150 crew members have lived and worked in its close confines, and over 296 days in space! SS Endeavour was commissioned by Congress after the US lost the Space Shuttle Challenger on that fateful day in 1986. Who can forget that day? I remember that moment so clearly. I was in high school in my English class and I just remember how shocked and sad we all were when the principal announced on the PA that this tragic event has happened.
If you’re at all interested in Science and the US Space Shuttle Program, this is a great exhibit to see. Luckily, this is now a permanent exhibit in the California Science Center, so you don’t have to rush to see it. We came during spring break on a weekday, so the crowds weren’t too bad. Timed entry is enforced during weekends, holidays, and certain time periods like Thanksgiving Break, Spring Break, and etc. Check their website for more info. $ 2 is charged for timed entry reservations. My husband and I bought tickets to the center’s Galapagos IMAX movie and Dead Sea Scrolls Exhibit (timed entry), and so we did not have to get a timed reservation for Endeavour. We could go see the Endeavour at any time, as it was included with those tickets.
The first part of the Endeavour: The California Story Exhibit will take you to a gallery with images, facts, and artifacts such as the Space Potty, Tires, Galley, and the Rocketdyne Operations Support Center. There is also a space shuttle simulator that you can ride for $ 5 per person per ride. The short movie by the exit shows how Endeavor was transferred from the airport to its home in the CSC and what the city had to do for the shuttle to travel though the streets of Los Angeles. It would have have been fun indeed to be one of the thousands of spectators watching the space shuttle being driven through the streets.
The second part will take you to the Samuel Oschin Pavilion. There you will see the actual Space Shuttle. In order to preserve the Space Shuttle, people are not allowed to go inside the space shuttle, but plans are underway to allow people to examine the shuttle from different elevations and perspectives. The SPACEHAB (workshop and extra living space for the astronauts) and the space shuttle’s main engine are also on display. Along the wall of the building is a timeline of the all NASA’s missions.
Go see it!

I got in for free since I bought a ticket for the Pompeii exhibit. So glad that I finally got to see it in person since I remember watching the ordeal of them moving it in LA a few years ago and seeing it fly overhead.
Though the exhibit was organized a bit weird since the first part is on the second floor that had the time-​lapsed film of the Endeavor last mission through LA and how astronauts use the toilet in space video. Then you have to go back downstairs to see the shuttle. The time I went, it didn’t seem crowded to me though there was plenty of people.
It was pretty cool being able to not only see the space shuttle up close, but to walk all around and even underneath it though they ask not to touch the tiles since they’re fragile and a single one costs $ 2000. On the surrounding walls they have a lot of information about the space shuttle program history and you can also see the engines and the science behind it. Additionally there are design concept models for the expansion of the center which they hope to have the Endeavor be set up like it was going on lift-​off.
Parking is $ 10 cash.

Amazing! This is a must for every single person!
We paid $ 8 per adult and our kids were free. Parking costs $ 10.
The Space Shuttle Endeavour was absolutely amazing to see. The details of the shuttle, the tiles, engine, wheels etc. I was blown away to learn so many amazing facts about the shuttle and how it endured thousands of degrees of heat during it’s decent, how much energy it takes to leave our Earth’s gravitiational pull.
The shuttle was built for 100 missions and has flown 25. It’s possible that they may take it out of retirement one day and you will have missed your chance to see it in person. I highly recommend you go.
If you have kids, there is a lot to do and mostly in doors. They have varrious rooms where kids to can learn about the different climates around Earth: Dessert, Artic Poles, Oceans etc. Many things are intereactive and will keep the kids entertained.
Outdoors, they have a large water fountain and a rose garden you can walk around in.
They have a basic food court and gift shop as well.

Finally we got to see this space shuttle!
She is spectacular and legendary! The entire exhibit is huge and informative, two sections, upstairs and downstairs. We got to know everything about Endeavour, there was a film about how she was transported to California science center, it was very interesting to watch!
After watching the film, we took time to see all the displays and informations about this space shuttle, they were so amazing and interesting! The actual thing is downstairs, this exhibit room is enormous! Took some skills to take a few good photos, but it was fun.
We went on the space shuttle simulator ride, $ 5 per person, it was a little claustrophobic, and I got a little bit of motion sick too, but it was still worth it to give it a try!
A great museum date, educational yet still so much fun!
Ps. It’s free, parking is $ 10.

Whenever the space shuttle was launched or in orbit I was just in awe. I would set up my telescope and practice following airplanes at night by guiding the telescope by hand. I would print out charts of where and when it would be in the nighttime sky. Then, once I knew the shuttle was over the horizon, I would start tracking it by hand. I could clearly see the outline of the shuttle in the telescope. On days when it was attached to the International Space Station, I could see the whole station and the shuttle in the telescope. It was such a neat thing to see. It is very hard to track by hand with the telescope and almost impossible to show someone else what I could see when I was tracking. I really wanted to show others what I could see, but couldn’t.
I also remember going to LA for a work related convention at University of Southern California (USC). As soon as I heard on the radio that the shuttle would be going down the streets of Inglewood, I just could not pass it up. Instead of going to USC, we did an about face with the car and headed for the Inglewood forum. I wanted to show the shuttle to my daughter who was 10 years old at the time. When we arrived at the Inglewood forum it was very crowded. We had to park a long ways away and walk a long distance. However, we were able to see it roll down the road past the forum. It was very neat to see this. We were still able to go to the convention at USC, but we had a good excuse for being late.
The Endeavor Space Shuttle at Exposition Park will give you the same kind of awe as I mentioned above. You walk into the building and it is such a neat thing to see. You can see all of the things they talked about during the days when it was only viewed on TV. For instance, you can see the damaged tiles that NASA was always worried about.
The docents are very knowledgeable. You can ask them almost anything about the shuttle and they will tell you in depth about what was asked.
The saddest thing about seeing this is the realization that the shuttle program no longer exists. I just hope that they come out with something to replace the shuttle. Maybe something like the shuttle is in the works. Maybe sometime in the future we will see a replacement for the shuttle. I hope so.

«Man, you know I really like Jasmine. You know that, right? Man, you are never gonna get to fly the space shuttle if you marry a stripper.» — Independence Day (1996)
I always wanted to go to Space Camp. I wanted to be an astronaut since I was very little and have been an avid watcher and lover of the Shuttle Program from its inception. When I recently visited my best friend in LA, she surprised me by taking me to the California Science Center to check out Endeavour. I was like a kid in a candy store.
So much to take in and I was quote emotional going through the exhibit. Thank goodness I had tissues in my purse — I couldn’t help myself. First, we got to walk through the see all sorts of artifacts from the program — items taken up in missions, an actual toilet from a shuttle, an art installation of all the shuttle take-​offs playing on one screen at ones (okay Challenger’s was not playing). There was a mock-​up Mission Control showing their view of a take-​off. So cool! They even had a simulator you could pay $ 5 to ride in. Otherwise, the exhibit was FREE.
After you take in all the pieces and parts, they direct you to a a shed — you walk in and there she is… the most beautiful sight ever. All around the ship were small displays showing the history of the program — some of which had pieces of information I did not know. They had one of the engines at eye level for us to look at. But the ship itself was the real, jaw-​dropping, eye-​catching piece to see. A-​Mazing!
They did have a model of what the permanent exhibit will look like, and that seems like you wouldn’t be able to get as close to the Shuttle in the future. So glad I got to see it now versus later.
A definite must-​see for any space program lover, fan, or avionics geek. I wouldn’t miss this.