‘Endeavour,’ the first space shuttle to be seen in a museum, finds permanent home in Los Angeles

Space shuttle Endeavour has gone on public display at the California Science Center in Los Angeles, making it the first space shuttle visitors can see in a museum. Its permanent exhibition marks a new chapter for the craft and gives the city a major new attraction.

Endeavour completed 25 missions over 19 years and made its final flight in 2011; it arrived in Los Angeles in 2012. The new wing, funded mainly by the Oschin family as part of a $450 million project, lets visitors view the restored orbiter from several levels and see its cockpit and repaired external fuel tank. The centre says $35 million remains to be raised and advises visitors to book tickets in advance.