The Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center at the California Science Center in Los Angeles has opened a new 200,000-square-foot addition featuring an extensive collection of aerospace artifacts, including the space shuttle Endeavour, displayed for the first time in its original launch position. The center offers visitors a blend of historical exhibits and cutting-edge technology that highlight human achievements in air and space exploration, while also pointing to future possibilities.
Among the prominent displays are models of Mars rovers that have significantly advanced planetary science. The center showcases the Sojourner rover, which in 1997 was the first wheeled vehicle to operate on Mars, the Mars Exploration Rover that discovered signs of ancient water, and the more recent Perseverance rover, which set an off-world driving record after landing in 2021 and continues to collect samples on the Martian surface.
Historical space capsules are also a key attraction. Visitors can view the Mercury-Redstone 2 capsule which carried Ham, the first chimpanzee in space, in 1961. The Apollo-Soyuz Command Module, used in the 1975 joint U.S.-Soviet space mission that marked the first international docking ceremony in orbit, is exhibited alongside the Gemini 11 capsule. The latter, flown in 1966, set an altitude record of 850 miles with astronauts Dick Gordon and Pete Conrad aboard.
The collection also includes space suits illustrating the evolution of astronaut gear. Among them are the Army green Mark II suit developed for high-altitude flight by the U.S. Navy and early Project Mercury training suits customized to fit individual astronauts.
Artifacts connected to NASA’s launch control are displayed near the Endeavour shuttle. These include blue industrial consoles from the Kennedy Space Center, used to monitor and manage historic launches, underscoring the critical role of ground teams in mission success.
The aviation hall features nearly two dozen aircraft, notably the red Pitts Special S-1C biplane, an aerobatic plane designed in 1944 that dominated competitive flying for decades. The museum’s aerospace innovations extend into modern technology with the 59-foot-tall Electron Rocket, a frequently launched orbital rocket notable for incorporating the first 3D-printed engine and missions delivering nearly 200 satellites.
Visitors can explore large sections of solid rocket boosters used to launch shuttles into orbit. These 30-foot-long components provided over six million pounds of thrust and were designed for recovery and reuse after ocean splashdowns.
A glimpse into future flight is offered through the Joby SHy4 air taxi, a hydrogen-electric aircraft seating a pilot and four passengers. Developed by Joby Aviation, the vehicle represents advancements in urban air mobility, though the company currently faces legal challenges and other obstacles in commercializing this technology.
The center does not shy away from practical questions about space travel, displaying the actual "space potty" removed from Endeavour. This waste management system uses suction technology to operate in zero gravity, helping visitors understand the everyday challenges astronauts face.
Looking ahead, the center presents the Exobiology Extant Life Surveyor (EELS), a snakelike robot developed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. This design aims to explore hard-to-reach environments on other celestial bodies, exemplifying ongoing efforts to push the boundaries of space exploration.
Together, these exhibits at the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center illustrate the broad spectrum of human ingenuity in air and space endeavors, celebrating past milestones while inspiring future discovery.