Mission 26: The Big Endeavour

Young kids dressed as astronauts standing in front of NASA astronaut
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Moving space shuttle Endeavour across the United States was a massive undertaking. Endeavour first flew on the back of a Boeing 747 from Cape Canaveral, Florida to Edwards Air Force Base in California, while making several stops along the way. After arrival, Endeavour honored many California landmarks as it flew over the state from Sacramento to Southern California, while onlookers marveled at the sight all along the way.

After landing at Los Angeles International Airport, the biggest adventure was yet to come—transporting Endeavour through the heart of urban Los Angeles to its new home in the Samuel Oschin Pavilion at the California Science Center. At 78 feet wide, 57 feet high and 122 feet long—longer than two school buses—navigating Endeavour down the streets of Los Angeles and Inglewood required the guidance and skill of over 100 people. Police controlled traffic and engineers and technicians lifted power lines and took down traffic lights while approximately 1.5 million people lined the sidewalks to celebrate the event. Photographers and filmmakers were on hand to document this once-in-forever moment in history.

Mission 26: The Big Endeavour features photographs highlighting some of the spectacular scenes witnessed during space shuttle Endeavour's flight over California and her 12-mile, 68-hour journey. Come relive these amazing moments—or experience them for the first time! Mission 26: The Big Endeavour is on display inside Creative World on the second floor.

 

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The entrance to the Mission 26 exhibit

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The Mission 26 gallery, with space shuttle mission patches hanging overhead

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Kids enjoying the Mission 26 exhibit

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A large rendering of the planned Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center's Shuttle gallery
Image attribution
Devin Waller

An artist's rendering of the planned Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center's Shuttle gallery, along with an architectural model

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The entrance to the Mission 26 exhibit

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The Mission 26 gallery, with space shuttle mission patches hanging overhead

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Kids enjoying the Mission 26 exhibit

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A large rendering of the planned Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center's Shuttle gallery
Image attribution
Devin Waller

An artist's rendering of the planned Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center's Shuttle gallery, along with an architectural model

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