---
title: Space Shuttle Endeavour Goes on Display Upright at the Free California Science Center on November 13
description: Space Shuttle Endeavour goes on show upright at the free California Science Center on November 13. Bookings open October 21, with a $4 fee per person.
author: Dr Marina Nani (Editor-in-Chief)
date: 2026-10-16T11:31:28.608Z
updated: 2026-10-16T11:31:28.632Z
canonical: https://richdadmagazine.com/article/is-the-california-science-center-free
image: https://cdn.nanimediahouse.com/space-shuttle-endeavour-upright-display-440647.webp
categories: Travel
content_type: News
region: Los Angeles
publication: Rich Dad Magazine
schema_type: Article
---

From 10 a.m. on Friday, November 13, families can walk into the California Science Center's new Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center in Exposition Park, Los Angeles, and stand beneath Space Shuttle Endeavour, displayed upright as if ready for launch. General admission to the museum is free. Because it expects heavy demand, the museum strongly encourages visitors to book ahead, and reservations open to the public on Wednesday, October 21, at 9:30 a.m.

Members get first pick, with reservations opening to them on Monday, October 19, at 9:30 a.m. Each reservation carries a $4 service fee per person, so a dad bringing his partner and two kids pays $16 in booking fees. Members pay no fee.

## You Can Book Online or by Phone, for Up to 19 People per Entry Time

You can reserve on the Science Center's website or by calling 213-744-2019. One booking can cover up to 19 people for a single entry time, and a party of 20 or more needs a group reservation through the same phone number. Reservations are not strictly required, but the museum says visitors who turn up without one may find entry limited. The museum, at 700 Exposition Park Drive, is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

## Endeavour Stands With Its Real Boosters and the Last Flight-Ready External Tank

Endeavour stands at the center of the new building in a launch-ready setup, fitted with authentic solid rocket boosters and ET-94, the last remaining flight-qualified external tank. The City of Los Angeles describes the display as a [20-story vertical launch configuration](https://lacity.gov/news/space-shuttle-endeavour-now-stands-its-iconic-launch-position) inside the Samuel Oschin Gallery, and reported in July that the orbiter was already standing in that position.

Endeavour was built to replace the shuttle Challenger, at a cost of about $1.7 billion, according to NASA. It was the [second shuttle to retire](https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2011.07.05-shuttle-era-facts.pdf), after its 25th mission, STS-134, which carried the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer-2 to the International Space Station.

The new building adds 200,000 square feet, nearly doubling the museum's exhibit space, with more than 100 artifacts, including rare and historic aerospace objects, and 100 new hands-on exhibits on science, technology and engineering. The exhibits fill three multi-level galleries: the Samuel Oschin Shuttle Gallery, the Korean Air Aviation Gallery and the Kent Kresa Space Gallery.

## Endeavour Has Been in Los Angeles Since 2012

NASA awarded Endeavour to the Science Center in 2011. The shuttle arrived in Los Angeles in 2012 and was moved through city streets from LAX, an overland journey across Los Angeles and Inglewood, then spent several years on horizontal display while the new gallery was built around it.

## FAQ

**Q: How do you become a member to get early access and skip the fee?**
Memberships can be bought online through the museum's website, in person at the Membership Services Window at the Box Office, open daily from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or by calling 213-744-7504. Every membership is a family membership covering two adults and up to four children aged 17 and under. The museum offers several levels but did not give prices in its announcement.