Senator Mark Kelly Reflects on Space Shuttle Endeavour Missions at California Science Center Exhibit Opening
Senator Mark Kelly, the last astronaut to command the Space Shuttle Endeavour, was present at the California Science Center on Friday for the opening of the new Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center. The centerpiece of this new exhibit is the Space Shuttle Endeavour, displayed in its nearly 200-foot-tall launch configuration, complete with authentic solid rocket boosters and an external tank. This setup, according to the Science Center, creates the only complete, authentic space shuttle system on public view globally. Senator Kelly, who commanded Endeavour's final mission, STS-134, in 2011, shared his reflections on his experiences with the spacecraft. His first flight on Endeavour was in 2001, shortly after the September 11 attacks. The 200,000-square-foot expansion of the Science Center nearly doubles its exhibit space, featuring 100 aerospace artifacts and 100 hands-on exhibits focused on science and engineering.
