California Science Center opens $450M Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center
The California Science Center in Los Angeles has opened the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center, a $450 million facility built around a display of the Space Shuttle Endeavour positioned nose-up as if launching. The center includes a theater experience that transitions from a film about the shuttle into a live reveal of the full-scale orbiter.
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The center's backers hope the exhibit inspires students to pursue STEM careers, framed as support for California's aerospace industry at a time when, as the source notes, science faces political pressure. Large-scale science museums like this could serve as a recruitment pipeline for aerospace employers in the state, though the actual career impact remains unproven and would depend on sustained engagement beyond a single visit.
- The California Science Center unveiled a new $450 million Air and Space Center featuring Space Shuttle Endeavour.
- The exhibit uses theatrical effects, including simulated fog, to reveal the full-scale shuttle in launch position.
- Organizers aim to use the center to encourage STEM career interest tied to California's aerospace sector.
LEGO NASA Space Shuttle Discovery — This detailed LEGO model lets space enthusiasts build their own piece of shuttle history at home, complete with a Hubble Space Telescope display. It's a great way to spark STEM curiosity in kids inspired by exhibits like the new Endeavour display, blending hands-on engineering with space exploration history.
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Published there as: “Meet the California Science Center’s new gateway to STEM careers”
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