For one last time a Space Shuttle has been lifted into launch position

Monday evening Space Shuttle Endeavour was lifted and installed onto its final resting spot which it should be rather familiar with. For the first time since the Space Shuttle’s retirement a full Shuttle stack has been assembled in launch position. However, this one won’t be rolling out to any launch pad any time soon.

California Science Center stacks Endeavour

Starting at 9:30 P.M. PT on Monday, a team of former NASA contractors, engineers, and technicians completed one last stacking of the Space Shuttle program, which officially ended back in 2011. This move has been a long time coming as Endeavour has been on display inside a temporary structure at the California Science Center, the Samual Oschin Space Shuttle Endeavour Display Pavilion, since 2012.

The new building, the Samual Oschin Air and Space Center, will be the new permanent home for Endeavour and all of the other exhibits related to it at the science center. It broke ground in 2022 and Endeavour went off of public display New Years Day in preparation of the move.

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Over the last few months the science center has erected a full shuttle stack in the same order NASA would have over a decade ago. Using real flight hardware solid rocket boosters that serves as the main structural anchor point to the ground, the final flight worthy Space Shuttle external tank was installed in December.

This all lead to the biggest lift yet, moving Endeavour from horizontal to vertical for the first time in close to 12 years. The lift was successful and for a short time, the wrapped up Endeavour will be visible to those passing by the construction site as the Air and Space Center will be constructed around the full Shuttle Stack. Scaffolding will be erected around the shuttle with a positive purge of gasses to keep any dust away from the shuttle during construction.

Once that is up, we won’t be able to publicly see Endeavour until the Air and Space Center opens. The California Science Center hasn’t shared exact dates as to when the new exhibit will reopen, only stating it will take “several years” to complete.