10 intriguing facts to know about space shuttle Endeavour ahead of upright debut

10 intriguing facts to know about space shuttle Endeavour ahead of upright debut Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times Oct 29, 2026 1 hr ago 0 An interior view of the Samuel Oschin Shuttle Gallery at the California Science Center in Exposition Park, featuring soaring contemporary architecture designed by ZGF Architects with a nearly 200-foot-tall gallery built to display NASAs Space Shuttle Endeavour in a vertical launch configuration with its external fuel tank and two solid rocket boosters Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026. The dramatic, multi-level space is the centerpiece of the Samuel Oschin Air & Space Center, designed to immerse visitors in the scale of the shuttle and explore its role in human spaceflight. The $450-million expansion is scheduled to open to the public Nov. 13, 2026. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times/TNS) Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times/TNS Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times LOS ANGELES — Space Shuttle Endeavour is the fifth and final operational shuttle built for NASA's space shuttle program. It flew its first mission in May 1992, and its last mission 19 years later. Congress approved the construction of Endeavour in 1987 to replace the Challenger, which exploded after launch the year before, killing all seven crew members including teacher Christa McAuliffe.kAmpE E96 $2>F6= ~D49:? p:C 2?5 $A246 r6?E6C[ @A6?:?8 }@G] `b 2E E96 r2=:7@C?:2 $4:6?46 r6?E6C[ t?562G@FC :D 5:DA=2J65 7@C E96 7:CDE E:>6 6G6C :? =2F?49 A@D:E:@?] w6C6 2C6 D@>6 724ED E@ 6 :? `hgg[ 27E6C 2 qC:E:D9 #@J2= }2GJ D9:A]k^Am People are also reading… UPDATE: Victim, passenger in fatal motorcycle crash east of Bismarck identified Bond reduced for one driver in fatal crash that killed two Mandan teens Bismarck woman accused of federal bank fraud now accused of Medicaid fraud Bismarck man who is registered sex offender pleads not guilty to 2015 sex crimes New 7 Brew location opening in Bismarck 91-year-old man dies from injuries suffered in Morton County I-94 crash Bismarck draft keeps mandatory jail for homeless camping, but only for certain campsites Weather experts predict higher temps, lower snowfall this winter in North Dakota Woman described as homeless is sentenced to probation in meth trafficking case Bismarck pulls homeless camping ordinance draft from agenda, citing weekend feed