NASA astronaut Leland Melvin greets school children for the opening of the Space Shuttle Endeavour at the Oschin pavilion at the California Science Center in Los Angeles Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2012. The shuttle arrived at Los Angeles International Airport aboard a modified Boeing 747 in late September after a dramatic flyover of landmarks across California before completing its 12-mile journey over three days along city streets from LAX to the Science Center. NASA ended the space shuttle program in August 2011 after 30 years. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

Space shuttle Endeavour goes on public display in Los Angeles

The Associated Press

First Published Oct 31 2012 10:03 am • Last Updated Oct 31 2012 10:06 am

LOS ANGELES • The final home of space shuttle Endeavour is opening its doors to the public.

Astronauts and schoolkids were on hand Tuesday at the California Science Center in Los Angeles at the grand opening of its new shuttle display.

Visitors to the free display can’t go inside Endeavour but they can use virtual exhibits, including touch-screen computer displays with information about the shuttle’s flight deck. Also on display is Endeavour’s zero-gravity toilet.

Thousands of people watched as the giant spacecraft made its final journey through the streets of Los Angeles and Inglewood two weeks ago.

The shuttle will be on display in a special 18,000-square-foot building until the downtown museum builds a new air and space wing that should open in about five years.

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