![]() "The OBSS usually used by Endeavour was left at the ISS," Jenkins said. With the shuttle fleet retired since 2011, the ideal addition for Endeavour's display would be the real OBSS. In Endeavour's exhibit, the boom will covered by the still closed starboard-side door, but depending on where visitors are standing, they might still be able to see where it should be mounted inside. When not in use, the OBSS was stored on the starboard, or right-side sill of the payload bay. Astronauts used the boom to inspect the orbiter's wings and underbelly to ensure they were not damaged during launch or while in space. Introduced as a safety measure after the loss of space shuttle Columbia in 2003, the OBSS was a 50-foot-long (15.24-m), camera-and-laser-tipped extension to the Canadarm robotic arm. Related: NASA's space shuttle Endeavour: 6 surprising factsĪ replica of Endeavour's Orbiter Boom Inspection System (OBSS), furnished for the California Science Center by Guard-Lee, Inc., will be installed in the space shuttle's payload bay. Endeavour will appear as it did on the launchpad with one exception: one of its payload bay doors will be open, allowing guests to see the equipment inside. Once completed, the exhibit will feature the world's only indoor display of a full space shuttle stack. There, the orbiter will be mated with NASA's last remaining, built-for-flight external fuel tank and two solid rocket boosters assembled from previously launched parts. Later this year, Endeavour will be transported from its pavilion to the construction site of its new home, the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center. STS-118 was chosen because that flight included educator-astronaut Barbara Morgan on its crew and the California Science Center is focused on education. ![]() In a much more publicized move almost a decade ago, the science center pulled open Endeavour's two 60-foot-long (18-meter) doors in an event that was called "Go for Payload." Over the course of three weeks in October 2014, engineers and curators used large cranes to load the shuttle's empty bay with a flown Spacehab logistics module and replica components modeled after how Endeavour looked on its 20th mission, STS-118, in 2007. (Image credit: California Science Center) ![]() The center's foundation has raised $320 million of the $400 million goal for the project.Įxposition Park is between the University of Southern California and Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.An overhead view of the space shuttle Endeavour after its payload bay doors were opened on Wednesday, Feb. Construction of the Air and Space Center will be completed around the full shuttle stack. The shuttle will be moved across Exposition Park and lifted by a crane to be intricately mated to the external tank. 31 will be the last chance to see Endeavour as it has been displayed horizontally in the landing position for years since arrival at the center. The center said in a statement that stacking the components of the shuttle system is a complex process that has never been undertaken outside a NASA facility.ĭec. When NASA’s shuttles were retired, Endeavour was flown to California atop NASA’s special Boeing 747 shuttle carrier in 2012, drawing crowds as it flew over locations in the state associated with the space program.Īfter landing at Los Angeles International Airport, the shuttle was placed on a special trailer and then created a sensation as it was inched through tight city streets to the California Science Center over several days.Ī groundbreaking ceremony for the Air and Space Center was held last year on the 11th anniversary of Endeavour's final return from space. The 20-story tall display will show the shuttle as it would appear waiting on a launch pad.Įndeavour was built as a replacement for the destroyed shuttle Challenger and flew 25 missions between 19. The initial step, dubbed “Go for Stack,” will be installation of the bottom portion of the solid rocket boosters known as aft skirts upon which will be stacked the booster segments, the external tank and then Endeavour. The California Science Center announced Thursday that the six-month process will get underway July 20 at the future Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center currently under construction in Exposition Park. LOS ANGELES (AP) - The lengthy process of putting the retired space shuttle Endeavour on display in the vertical launch position will begin this month in Los Angeles.
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