Just this past Monday, the California Science Center crews skillfully elevated Space Shuttle Endeavour and placed it into its final take-off ready position — symbolizing both the end of an era and the beginning of a new chapter in our wonder and exploration of science.
“This is an incredible day,” said Alyson Goodall, senior vice president at the California Science Center to NBC Los Angeles. “We’ve been working toward this for decades. You’re seeing the full shuttle stack that we’ve been dreaming of. It’s really awe-inspiring, and we can’t wait for it to open to the public.”
After completing its final space mission 13 years ago, the retired orbiter was horizontally displayed at the Science Center for over ten years. Then on Friday, it was gradually relocated from its original pavilion to a new location close to the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center, which is now under development.
The retired shuttle has now been hoisted into the air and placed into a launch-ready position where it will live in the upcoming 200,000-square-foot center, forever. The California Science Center’s educational area is set to be doubled by this new center, which will also feature three multi-level galleries with space, aviation, and shuttle-related themes. An opening date has not yet been released.
You can watch the California Science Center lifting and installing Space Shuttle Endeavor in its entirety below.