June 25, 2026 • 7 mins
Amy takes us ‘Out and About’ to Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center at the California Science Center to give us a first look at the Endeavour Space Shuttle.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
And opening date's been announced for the future Air and
Space Museum at the California Science Center. Samuel Ocean Air
and Space Center opens to the public soon. It'll be
the permanent home of the Space Shuttle Endeavor. In fact,
we're so excited about it. We went out and about
to the Samuel Ocean Air and Space Museum at the
California Science Center. So excited the Endeavor getting closer to
(00:23):
its debut. So we went out and about to give
you a sneak peek at one of the most spectacular
things I've ever seen. We have the Space Shuttle Endeavor
in launch position. It's going to be on display at
the Samuel Ocean Air and Space Museum, not quite yet.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
Again, I said it was a sneak peak. So we're
going to give you a first look at this amazing
exhibit and find out more about it. We have Jeff Rudolph.
He's the CEO and President of the California Science Center.
Jeff I walked in to this area pavilion and like
(01:02):
started crying immediately. This is so cool. If you love space,
like check this out. We are standing underneath Space Shuttle
Endeavor that how many times has it been to space twenty.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
Five missions in space, and this is a view that
very few people could ever have had.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
I mean, I'm like a foot away from touching the
space shuttle. Yeah, okay, so how did you do this?
Speaker 3 (01:33):
Well? It has been a challenge, and it's a dream
that goes back actually over thirty years ago, when we
were planning the Science Center as a whole. We planned
to do an air and space section of it and thought,
we know, we want to do real space and aircraft.
Some day they'll retire the space shuttles. We should try
to get one, and if we do, we should put
(01:54):
it in a launch position.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
Okay, So, Jeff, I know that this is your brain child,
this was your idea. How do you get a space shuttle?
Speaker 3 (02:02):
Well, that was the challenging part, one of the many
challenging parts. When NASA announced they were retiring the space shuttles,
they said, we're going to have a national competition in
museum in the country can submit a proposal, and we
submitted our proposal along their guidelines. We're thrilled a few
years later when they announced that we were getting one
(02:23):
of the three flowing orbiters.
Speaker 2 (02:25):
And it's so cool because we've seen the different iterations.
We saw it fly over southern California on the piggyback
down a seven forty seven. It flew right over my house.
I mean I was like, oh my God. And then
it was escorted through the streets of Los Angeles, and
then for a few years it was on display in
a prone position and a very large pavilion, and then
(02:49):
you said, okay, it's time to stand this sucker up.
Speaker 3 (02:52):
And we were working out the whole time, and part
of it was, I mean, this is really challenging. No
one has ever put together at system the whole thing
in launch position outside of a NASA or Force facility,
so this is the first time it's been done. And
we needed all real hardware. All of the hardware that
we used is real hardware that was used on launch.
Speaker 2 (03:12):
Okay, so when you're talking about the hardware, this is
an actual rocket booster that's been to space.
Speaker 3 (03:16):
Well, it launches. These solid rocket boosters have been used
the segments they launched and provided about eighty percent of
the thrust. About two minutes into the flight, they were
jettison the solid rocket boosters and they would come fall
back into the ocean with the parachute and be recovered
and reused. Okay, These segments on these have fluent on
(03:37):
twenty missions.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
Okay. And then so now we're coming around the shuttle
and we're looking up. How tall is that?
Speaker 3 (03:46):
Well, the whole stack is twenty stories talked about two
hundred feet from here to the top of the external
tank is the highest point.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
Okay. And then the really cool thing is we're walking
around this shuttle and it's in launch position, and so
you can not only see it from the floor and
it's just inspiring, but you've installed this elevator with platforms
on it, so people are going to be able to
see not only from underneath, but they can see over
Here is the cargo bay that opens up where you
(04:15):
put stuff out into space, and did you release satellites
and stuff like that, or what was in the.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
Park take satellites, they'd take parts of the space station,
and then the place space station was assembled and they
also could do experiments set up here the space hab
that's in there's a pressurized module. There's another one right
here that they carried on some flights and allowed them
to have extra space to do experiments and work as well.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
And then it goes up even farther and on another platform,
you'll be able to see into the cockpit.
Speaker 3 (04:49):
You'll see into the mid deck and the and the
flight deck and do that see where the astronaut sat.
And then the top deck you can see as a
glass floor and you can go above it and look down.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
That is so amazing, and the other like when you're
up on this, I mean, I'm like two feet away
from the Space Shuttle and you can see the heat
panels and you can see the damage that's been done
from it going into space and then coming back down.
I'm just almost speechless, which doesn't happen very often with me.
(05:23):
So when are people going to be able to come
and see this?
Speaker 3 (05:26):
November thirteenth, okay, opening date.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
I'm imagining there's going to be a huge demand.
Speaker 3 (05:33):
We are anticipating that, and so we will have time
reservations okay. Later this fall will announce how.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
You do that, okay? And is it going to be
like with the where the other shuttle you had docents
around so people can ask questions.
Speaker 3 (05:46):
Or how we'll have staff and volunteers. We have a
lot of interpretive exhibits that explain a lot on their
own and nimb volunteers and staff here that can answer
some of your questions.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
Okay, so this started like how many years ago?
Speaker 3 (05:58):
Thirty years over, thirty years ago was first dream of
doing this, okay?
Speaker 2 (06:01):
And it was how long ago that we took the
shuttle and put it in the upright position and then
built a whole building around it.
Speaker 3 (06:08):
Well, we first got the shuttle, we were awarded the
shuttle in twenty eleven. We came to in twenty twelve.
We put the stack together two years ago. Yeah, when
the building was partially completed. We couldn't put it in
the building once the building was done, so we built
part of the building, put it in the building, and
then protected it and finished through us to the building
around it.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
Absolutely amazing. Jeff Rudolf, thank you so much for sharing
a sneak peak with us of the Space Shuttle. Endeavored.
We can't wait for more people to come and see it.
We're out and about at the California Science Center, and
I got to tell you it was like when they
unveil it and you walk into the room, because it's
this giant pavilion. Like he was saying, they literally put
(06:51):
the shuttle in its upright position and then had to
build the building around it because it's so big, and
it's just if you are all into space and you
guys know, if you listen to Wake Up Call Him
and total Space Geek, it's just like.
Speaker 1 (07:06):
You know, it just Almo not takes your breath away,
but it really it's just awe inspiring. So November thirteenth
market on your calendars. We'll keep you posted as we
get closer to it. But I also want to invite
you to go check out my Instagram and if you've
been looking at Instagram, the shuttles all over Instagram, but
(07:26):
check out my Instagram. We'll give you some views of
what it looks like standing under the Space Shuttle and
it is very very cool. Thanks again to everybody at
the California Science Center for setting that up. I can't
wait until everybody gets to go see it again.
And opening date's been announced for the future Air and
Space Museum at the California Science Center. Samuel Ocean Air
and Space Center opens to the public soon. It'll be
the permanent home of the Space Shuttle Endeavor. In fact,
we're so excited about it. We went out and about
to the Samuel Ocean Air and Space Museum at the
California Science Center. So excited the Endeavor getting closer to
(00:23):
its debut. So we went out and about to give
you a sneak peek at one of the most spectacular
things I've ever seen. We have the Space Shuttle Endeavor
in launch position. It's going to be on display at
the Samuel Ocean Air and Space Museum, not quite yet.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
Again, I said it was a sneak peak. So we're
going to give you a first look at this amazing
exhibit and find out more about it. We have Jeff Rudolph.
He's the CEO and President of the California Science Center.
Jeff I walked in to this area pavilion and like
(01:02):
started crying immediately. This is so cool. If you love space,
like check this out. We are standing underneath Space Shuttle
Endeavor that how many times has it been to space twenty.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
Five missions in space, and this is a view that
very few people could ever have had.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
I mean, I'm like a foot away from touching the
space shuttle. Yeah, okay, so how did you do this?
Speaker 3 (01:33):
Well? It has been a challenge, and it's a dream
that goes back actually over thirty years ago, when we
were planning the Science Center as a whole. We planned
to do an air and space section of it and thought,
we know, we want to do real space and aircraft.
Some day they'll retire the space shuttles. We should try
to get one, and if we do, we should put
(01:54):
it in a launch position.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
Okay, So, Jeff, I know that this is your brain child,
this was your idea. How do you get a space shuttle?
Speaker 3 (02:02):
Well, that was the challenging part, one of the many
challenging parts. When NASA announced they were retiring the space shuttles,
they said, we're going to have a national competition in
museum in the country can submit a proposal, and we
submitted our proposal along their guidelines. We're thrilled a few
years later when they announced that we were getting one
(02:23):
of the three flowing orbiters.
Speaker 2 (02:25):
And it's so cool because we've seen the different iterations.
We saw it fly over southern California on the piggyback
down a seven forty seven. It flew right over my house.
I mean I was like, oh my God. And then
it was escorted through the streets of Los Angeles, and
then for a few years it was on display in
a prone position and a very large pavilion, and then
(02:49):
you said, okay, it's time to stand this sucker up.
Speaker 3 (02:52):
And we were working out the whole time, and part
of it was, I mean, this is really challenging. No
one has ever put together at system the whole thing
in launch position outside of a NASA or Force facility,
so this is the first time it's been done. And
we needed all real hardware. All of the hardware that
we used is real hardware that was used on launch.
Speaker 2 (03:12):
Okay, so when you're talking about the hardware, this is
an actual rocket booster that's been to space.
Speaker 3 (03:16):
Well, it launches. These solid rocket boosters have been used
the segments they launched and provided about eighty percent of
the thrust. About two minutes into the flight, they were
jettison the solid rocket boosters and they would come fall
back into the ocean with the parachute and be recovered
and reused. Okay, These segments on these have fluent on
(03:37):
twenty missions.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
Okay. And then so now we're coming around the shuttle
and we're looking up. How tall is that?
Speaker 3 (03:46):
Well, the whole stack is twenty stories talked about two
hundred feet from here to the top of the external
tank is the highest point.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
Okay. And then the really cool thing is we're walking
around this shuttle and it's in launch position, and so
you can not only see it from the floor and
it's just inspiring, but you've installed this elevator with platforms
on it, so people are going to be able to
see not only from underneath, but they can see over
Here is the cargo bay that opens up where you
(04:15):
put stuff out into space, and did you release satellites
and stuff like that, or what was in the.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
Park take satellites, they'd take parts of the space station,
and then the place space station was assembled and they
also could do experiments set up here the space hab
that's in there's a pressurized module. There's another one right
here that they carried on some flights and allowed them
to have extra space to do experiments and work as well.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
And then it goes up even farther and on another platform,
you'll be able to see into the cockpit.
Speaker 3 (04:49):
You'll see into the mid deck and the and the
flight deck and do that see where the astronaut sat.
And then the top deck you can see as a
glass floor and you can go above it and look down.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
That is so amazing, and the other like when you're
up on this, I mean, I'm like two feet away
from the Space Shuttle and you can see the heat
panels and you can see the damage that's been done
from it going into space and then coming back down.
I'm just almost speechless, which doesn't happen very often with me.
(05:23):
So when are people going to be able to come
and see this?
Speaker 3 (05:26):
November thirteenth, okay, opening date.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
I'm imagining there's going to be a huge demand.
Speaker 3 (05:33):
We are anticipating that, and so we will have time
reservations okay. Later this fall will announce how.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
You do that, okay? And is it going to be
like with the where the other shuttle you had docents
around so people can ask questions.
Speaker 3 (05:46):
Or how we'll have staff and volunteers. We have a
lot of interpretive exhibits that explain a lot on their
own and nimb volunteers and staff here that can answer
some of your questions.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
Okay, so this started like how many years ago?
Speaker 3 (05:58):
Thirty years over, thirty years ago was first dream of
doing this, okay?
Speaker 2 (06:01):
And it was how long ago that we took the
shuttle and put it in the upright position and then
built a whole building around it.
Speaker 3 (06:08):
Well, we first got the shuttle, we were awarded the
shuttle in twenty eleven. We came to in twenty twelve.
We put the stack together two years ago. Yeah, when
the building was partially completed. We couldn't put it in
the building once the building was done, so we built
part of the building, put it in the building, and
then protected it and finished through us to the building
around it.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
Absolutely amazing. Jeff Rudolf, thank you so much for sharing
a sneak peak with us of the Space Shuttle. Endeavored.
We can't wait for more people to come and see it.
We're out and about at the California Science Center, and
I got to tell you it was like when they
unveil it and you walk into the room, because it's
this giant pavilion. Like he was saying, they literally put
(06:51):
the shuttle in its upright position and then had to
build the building around it because it's so big, and
it's just if you are all into space and you
guys know, if you listen to Wake Up Call Him
and total Space Geek, it's just like.
Speaker 1 (07:06):
You know, it just Almo not takes your breath away,
but it really it's just awe inspiring. So November thirteenth
market on your calendars. We'll keep you posted as we
get closer to it. But I also want to invite
you to go check out my Instagram and if you've
been looking at Instagram, the shuttles all over Instagram, but
(07:26):
check out my Instagram. We'll give you some views of
what it looks like standing under the Space Shuttle and
it is very very cool. Thanks again to everybody at
the California Science Center for setting that up. I can't
wait until everybody gets to go see it again.
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