In Exposition Park, the exterior of the new Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center looks to be just about complete. However, inside the $450-million expansion of the California Science Center, the installation of a major attraction is just getting started.

Aerial view looking northwestHunter Kerhart Architectural Photography

On November 18, crews installed the first artifacts in the new Kent Kresa Space Gallery, including a space shuttle main engine, a solid rocket booster segment, and a rocket lab electron launch vehicle. They are the first of what will eventually be 100 artifacts on display in more than 100 different exhibits.

The Kent Kresa Space Gallery is one of three main galleries to be built within the facility. The others are the Korean Air Aviation Gallery and the Samuel Oschin Shuttle Gallery, which houses the main attraction of the museum: Space Shuttle Endeavor.

The approximately 20-story, 200,000-square-foot building, designed by ZGF, will approximately double the size of the California Science Center when completed. Construction commenced in 2022, and an opening date for the Samuel Oschin building has not been announced.

Electron rocket install at the Kent Kresa Space GalleryCalifornia Science Center

To date, the California Science Center Foundation has now raised $380 million toward the $450 million campaign goal for the project. More information can be found at californiasciencecenter.org/future.

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