posted 09-20-2023 04:53 PM               

California Science Center Foundation Receives $25 Million Gift from Korean Air to Name New Aviation Gallery of the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center

The California Science Center Foundation today (Sept. 20) announced an extraordinary gift of $25 million from five-star airline, Korean Air, to name the Aviation Gallery – one of three major educational exhibit galleries comprising the new Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center, currently under construction. Korean Air's generous commitment is the single largest corporate contribution to the California Science Center.

"We are deeply grateful to our colleagues at Korean Air for their tremendous generosity and partnership in creating a world-class science learning experience that will not only benefit the children and youth of our shared Los Angeles community but will inspire visitors from across the globe," remarked Jeffrey Rudolph, President and CEO of the California Science Center. "Korean Air's $25 million gift commitment is unparalleled among our corporate funders, and we are honored that the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center will bear the Korean Air Aviation Gallery name in recognition of this meaningful investment in the California Science Center's educational mission to stimulate curiosity and inspire science learning in everyone."

This gift substantially advances the California Science Center Foundation's EndeavourLA Campaign, with progress to date totaling nearly $350 million toward its $400 million goal in support of the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center project. This 200,000-square-foot addition will integrate a diverse collection of aircraft and spacecraft with immersive experiences and the California Science Center's signature hands-on educational exhibits. Its three major galleries – Aviation Gallery, Space Gallery, and Shuttle Gallery – will double the Science Center's space for educational exhibits and provide a greater launchpad than ever before to inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers, and explorers.

The $25 million contribution will name the Korean Air Aviation Gallery in the future Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center, which will demonstrate how the pursuit to master the sky involves tradeoffs among four principles of flight – lift, thrust, drag and weight – that affect every aircraft ever built, whether it flies high, low, fast, or slow.

"The Los Angeles area has welcomed our airline and it's an honor to give back to this great community," said the airline's Chairman Walter Cho. "Los Angeles was Korean Air's first U.S. destination and we're proud to be an integral part of its aviation story and history. This facility will provide learning opportunities and hopefully inspire young people to be more curious about aviation and its impact on society. The 747 exhibit will showcase the transformative technology and ongoing impact of the iconic aircraft."

The Korean Air Aviation Gallery will feature a diverse collection of approximately 20 authentic aircraft, exhibited both on the floor and suspended in mid-air, illustrating unique characteristics and capabilities. Highlights will include: a replica of the Wright Brothers' 1902 Glider; a Harrier T4 jump-jet; a historic F-100 Super Saber; and the forward 50-feet of a real Korean Air-operated Boeing 747 commercial airliner fuselage, which will serve as the centerpiece of the Aviation Gallery.

The 747 Exhibit Experience will showcase the transformative technology and ongoing impact of this iconic aircraft. Guests will marvel at the Queen of the Skies' scale and elegant design, explore the innovations that allowed the 747 to revolutionize air travel, and take a simulated flight from Los Angeles to Seoul, Korea in a theater on the airplane's main deck. Throughout the experience, exhibits link science and engineering concepts with the 747's global influence and aim to inspire young visitors to see themselves in the diverse roles of the people who contribute to the aircraft's success and legacy.

Examples of additional hands-on experiences in the Korean Air Aviation Gallery include the Wind Tunnels Exhibit, providing an opportunity to experiment in a wind tunnel lab to understand the forces that make planes fly; and the Design a Plane Exhibit, offering a unique lesson in aircraft design and engineering.

posted 09-20-2023 04:56 PM               

Our Space Shuttle Team recently moved our SpaceHab module and Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) from the Samuel Oschin Pavilion to prepare them for their install in the future Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center. Both artifacts are so large, they need to be placed inside the building prior to its completion.

The SpaceHab was lifted into the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center to set it in its permanent location near the space shuttle stack since it would not be possible to place it there once the space shuttle is in ready-to-launch position. The SSME will later be moved into the Air and Space Center.

posted 07-20-2024 10:59 AM               

Behind-the-scenes look at a space artifact that will be on display in the future Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center!

Three solid rocket motor case sections that will be displayed for a walkthrough solid rocket booster exhibit. Check out the exhibit in the rendering!

posted 05-19-2025 03:59 PM               

Sneak peek at our one-of-a-kind Solid Rocket Booster (SRB) walkthrough experience coming to the future Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center!

Our crew completed installation on the SRB components in the Kent Kresa Space Gallery for this immersive experience. Get ready to explore a crucial part of the space shuttle system up close!

BTS Fact: The SRB cases weigh an impressive 10,000 lbs and the aft skirt tips the scales at around 15,000 lbs. These hefty components presented quite the moving challenge!

posted 09-15-2025 01:50 PM               

California Science Center release

California Science Center Announces First Artifact Installation in the Korean Air Aviation Gallery of the Future Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center: Hawker Siddeley Harrier T.4

The California Science Center has installed the first artifact in the Korean Air Aviation Gallery of the future Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center, the Hawker Siddeley Harrier T.4.

This unique jet-powered strike aircraft was designed and produced by the British aerospace company Hawker Siddeley and was part of the first generation of the Harrier series of aircraft made for the Royal Air Force (RAF). It was the first operational ground attack and reconnaissance aircraft with vertical/short takeoff and landing (V/STOL) capabilities and the only truly successful V/STOL design of its era, revolutionizing the concept for fixed-wing combat aircraft and making it one of the most iconic fighter jets ever flown. First introduced into service during the Cold War, the two-seat trainer now installed in the Korean Air Aviation Gallery of the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center was built circa 1975.

There is currently no public access to the new Aviation Gallery due to the ongoing construction of the Air and Space Center.

The Korean Air Aviation Gallery is one of three new multi-level galleries in the future Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center, opening date to be announced. This gallery will explore the way the pursuit to master the sky involves tradeoffs among the four forces of flight – lift, thrust, weight, and drag – affecting every aircraft ever flown, whether it flies high, low, fast, or slow. The gallery will have three primary thematic areas: Learning to Fly, Every day Flight, and Advanced Aviation. The Harrier is one of approximately 20 aircraft that will be on display and the first to be installed, in the Advanced Aviation area.

Construction at the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center is expected to be concluded by the end of 2025. Following the completion of artifact and exhibit installation, the Air and Space Center will be ready to open. The opening date is yet to be announced.

posted 11-18-2025 08:45 AM               

Rocket Lab Electron among first artifacts installed in CA Science Center space gallery

It took the California Science Center more than three years to erect its new Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center, including stacking NASA's space shuttle Endeavour for its launch pad-like display.

Now the big work begins.

"That's completing the artifact installation and then installing the exhibits," said Jeffrey Rudolph, president and CEO of the California Science Center in Los Angeles, in an interview with collectSPACE. "Most of the exhibits are in fabrication in shops around the country and audio-visual production is underway. We're full-on focused on exhibits now."

posted 04-13-2026 11:20 AM               

California Science Center Completes Construction on the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center Building

The California Science Center announced today (April 13, 2026) that construction of the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center is complete. Work on the building addition concludes four years after the June 2022 groundbreaking, resulting in a 200,000 square foot expansion that will nearly double the Science Center's educational exhibit space, and proudly provide the permanent home of Space Shuttle Endeavour.

With building construction finished, the installation of historic artifacts and interactive exhibits is well underway. This intensive phase of work will continue for several months before the California Science Center announces an opening date for the future Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center.

Through an impressive collection of 100 aerospace artifacts integrated with 100 new hands-on exhibits, the Air and Space Center will showcase authentic aircraft and spacecraft to encourage active learning through discovery; and will be the only place in the world to see an authentic space shuttle system exhibited as if "ready-for-launch" in a towering vertical display. Guests of all ages will be encouraged to investigate scientific and engineering principles of atmospheric flight and the exploration of the universe in three major multi-level galleries – the Samuel Oschin Shuttle Gallery, the Korean Air Aviation Gallery, and the Kent Kresa Space Gallery.

"Through the development of the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center, the California Science Center is fulfilling a decades-long dream. This amazing project significantly expands our ability to accomplish our mission, to stimulate curiosity and inspire science learning in everyone, on a scale and with an impact unlike anything in our history. It is the culmination of our ambitious three-decade master plan," said Jeffrey Rudolph, President and CEO. "The Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center will stand as an enduring source of inspiration for generations of scientists, engineers, and explorers – and we cannot wait to share it with the world."

The Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center, designed by ZGF Architects, has a unique architectural identity that distinguishes it from the rest of the California Science Center building. Characterized by a curvilinear stainless-steel exterior, the new addition's architectural expression is inspired by the aerodynamic, fluid geometry of Space Shuttle Endeavour. Built by MATT Construction, the building's primary structure peaks at 200 feet, a captivating presence Angelenos and visitors can spot from vantage points across town. Engineered by Arup, the LEED Silver certified building is a feat of engineering, offering sweeping, unobstructed views of the space shuttle and other aerospace artifacts inside.

"At the outset of this project we challenged ourselves to achieve something that has never been done before: to design the only place in the world for the public to see a space shuttle in launch position," explained Ted Hyman, ZGF Partner. "We are proud to deliver an iconic architecture that translates the California Science Center's moonshot ambition into an approachable experience that feels welcoming, immersive, and engaging to all."

"The Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center was truly a project of passion for everyone involved," said Steven F. Matt, Chairman of MATT Construction. "From our leadership team to the skilled tradespeople on site, there was an extraordinary sense of pride in delivering this historic project. One of the greatest challenges was constructing the 2,000‑ton curved diagrid structure over Space Shuttle Endeavour—completed successfully without a single scratch. This project stands as a tribute to the generations who built our aerospace legacy and will continue to inspire children for decades to come."

Construction completion is the latest in a series of exciting milestones in the development of the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center. In early 2024, Space Shuttle Endeavour was lifted into its full stack vertical configuration at almost 200-feet tall, mated to real solid rocket boosters and ET-94, the last remaining flight-qualified external tank, and installed in its permanent home, the future Samuel Oschin Shuttle Gallery, at the conclusion of a six-month process known as Go for Stack. In September 2025, the Hawker Siddeley Harrier T.4 fighter jet was announced as the first artifact to be installed in the Korean Air Aviation Gallery. And the first artifacts in the Kent Kresa Space Gallery were announced in November 2025, with the installation of the Rocket Lab Electron launch vehicle alongside a Solid Rocket Booster segment for a future walk-through experience and the Space Shuttle Main Engine.

The California Science Center's Project Director, Dennis R. Jenkins, manages the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center project, assembling the team that installed the space shuttle stack and overseeing the building team that includes architect ZGF, general contractor MATT Construction, engineer Arup, steel fabricator Plas-Tal Manufacturing, scaffolding and shuttle protection by BrandSafway, and exhibit design by Evidence Design. Over the four years of this massive construction project, approximately 1,500 workers, across multiple disciplines and trades, have helped realize the vision for the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center.

"Thanks to the generosity of so many foundations, individuals and corporate supporters, and the dedication of our talented staff and project team, the California Science Center has reached this exciting milestone," said Jeffrey Rudolph, President and CEO. "The support we've received has propelled us closer to opening the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center and serves as an investment in the future of science learning."

This incredible educational and civic project has been enabled by the unparalleled support of our lead donors the Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Oschin Family Foundation and the State of California; principal donors Korean Air and the Kresa Family Foundation; as well as The Ahmanson Foundation, Thomas and Dorothy Leavey Foundation, Melanie and Richard Lundquist, The Otis Booth Foundation, Ibrahim El-Hefni Technical Training Foundation, and Weingart Foundation. The California Science Center Foundation is grateful for their substantial investments, which together with the support of over 900 donors, total more than $390 million raised toward the $450 million project budget.

posted 05-14-2026 09:51 AM               

California Science Center Installs The Korean Air 747 Experience in the future Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center

Event commemorates the first artifacts installed in the Korean Air Aviation Gallery

The California Science Center has reached another major milestone in the future Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center with the installation of the first artifacts in the Korean Air Aviation Gallery. Thanks to the generous support of Korean Air, these include one of the signature attractions of the gallery, The 747 Experience, a 70-foot forward section of a Korean Air Boeing 747-400 aircraft fuselage, alongside four dramatically suspended aircraft from the Science Center's collection, which will eventually include approximately 20 aircraft on display. Building construction on the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center was completed in April and artifact and exhibit installation are well underway and will continue for several months. An opening date has not been set.

The upcoming Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center is part of the California Science Center's 200,000 square-foot Phase III addition, spanning four floors and including 100,000 square feet of exhibit space. The new Air and Space Center will showcase a diverse collection of 100 artifacts, including rare and historic aerospace objects, integrated with 100 new exhibits, featuring hands-on, interactive experiences across three main galleries: the Samuel Oschin Shuttle Gallery, the Korean Air Aviation Gallery, and the Kent Kresa Space Gallery.

The Korean Air Aviation Gallery explores how the pursuit to master the sky involves tradeoffs among four forces of flight – lift, thrust, drag, and weight – that affect every aircraft ever flown, whether it flies high, low, fast, or slow. The gallery will have three primary thematic areas: Learning to Fly, Everyday Flight, and Advanced Aviation.

Highlights will include The 747 Experience which comprises the 70-foot front section of the upper and main decks alongside the cockpit of a Korean Air Boeing 747-400 aircraft, and includes a simulated flight from Los Angeles to Seoul, Korea, in The 747 Experience Theater; the Wind Tunnels exhibit where guests will experiment in a wind tunnel lab, investigating the connections between the forces of flight through experiments with both weight and lift and thrust and lift; and the Design a Plane exhibit where guests will learn how planes can be engineered to meet the requirements of different flight missions.

The aircraft already installed and suspended from the ceiling of the Korean Air Aviation Gallery include a Grumman F11F-1 Tiger (U.S. Navy's first supersonic fighter jet); a Convair F-106A Delta Dart (the fastest single-engine turbojet-powered airplane); a Pitts Special S-1C (aerobatic kit biplane); and a Hawker Siddeley Harrier T.4 (first jet with operational vertical/short takeoff and landing capabilities) – the first artifact installed in the gallery.

To recognize this milestone, California Science Center President and CEO Jeffrey N. Rudolph was joined by major donor Walter Cho, Chairman and CEO of Korean Air and Hanjin Group, in making commemorative remarks. Following the program, guests were invited to tour the new gallery, experiencing the first glimpse of the future Korean Air Aviation Gallery.

"We are delighted to celebrate the installation of the first artifacts in the future Korean Air Aviation Gallery, including the Korean Air Boeing 747-400, and to have Walter Cho, Chairman of Korean Air and Hanjin Group, here with us to mark this milestone, " said Jeffrey Rudolph, President and CEO of the California Science Center. "Together, we are creating a one-of-a-kind educational resource that will benefit not only the children and youth of our shared Los Angeles community, but will inspire future generations of scientists, engineers, explorers from across the globe. We are deeply grateful to our colleagues at Korean Air for their tremendous generosity and partnership in creating a world-class science learning experience in our future Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center."

"For more than five decades, Los Angeles has served as a second home for Korean Air, and we are proud to support the California Science Center's mission of innovation," said Walter Cho, Chairman and CEO of Korean Air and Hanjin Group. "Our vision for the Korean Air Aviation Gallery is to spark curiosity and wonder in the next generation. By showcasing the science and imagination behind flight, we want to inspire young visitors to become the pilots, engineers, and innovators of tomorrow."

Reaching this exciting installation milestone has been enabled by the tremendous generosity of the philanthropic community – led by the Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Oschin Family Foundation and the State of California, along with Korean Air and the Kresa Family Foundation. Thanks to more than 1,100 individuals, foundations, and corporate donors, the California Science Center Foundation has now raised over $393 million toward the $450 million EndeavourLA Campaign goal.