The California Science Center placed the final steel beam on the structure on Oct. 10. (photo by Tabor Brewster)
One small step in the ongoing construction of the California Science Center’s newest addition signified one giant leap in science education in Los Angeles on Oct. 10. The final steel beam for the upcoming Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center was hoisted up and put in place in a topping out ceremony. The event was attended by the project’s construction team, donors, leaders from the science center and around Los Angeles, and Lynda Oschin, the chairperson of the Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Oschin Family Foundation, whose donations made the new center possible.
The new wing will feature 100 exhibits, including an aviation gallery, space gallery and one of the most anticipated space shuttle displays in the world. Space Shuttle Endeavor will be displayed upright, in launch position, with observation decks surrounding it on different levels to allow visitors to view it from different angles in the 20-story tower.
“This is another major step toward making the vision for the Samuel Oschin Air and Space center a reality,” Oschin said. “Space shuttle Endeavor exemplifies so many of the passions of my husband, Samuel Oschin – especially astronomy, exploration and helping children to achieve their dreams. This major expansion of the science center will honor his legacy by inspiring generations of children to pursue lives of adventure, innovation and discovery; and to explore careers in science, math and engineering.”
The event was also attended by Garrett Reisman, a former NASA astronaut whose first mission was aboard Endeavor. He lauded the project’s architecture, as well as its commitment to displaying the shuttle in launch position – the only such display of any space shuttle in the world. He said the shuttle will inspire children around the world to follow careers in science.
“I hope that they get a sense of the excitement of human space flight, just like I did when I was a kid. I went to the National Air and Space Museum and got inspired. Maybe some of them will go off and pursue careers in STEM and help us, because we need more engineers, we need more scientists,” Reisman said.
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