A complex undertaking commenced Thursday at the California Science Center in Los Angeles, marking the beginning of Space Shuttle Endeavour's transformation into a breathtaking vertical launch display. This ambitious project involves positioning the retired shuttle upright, complete with its external tank and twin solid rocket boosters.

The initial phase involved carefully hoisting the bottom segments of the boosters, known as aft skirts, into the designated area within the Science Center's future Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center, currently under construction in Exposition Park. Precision was paramount during this operation, as the precise placement of these segments is crucial for the successful stacking of the entire assembly. Notably, this marks the first instance of such a procedure being conducted outside a NASA facility.

The final display, reaching a towering 20 stories, will rest upon a massive 1,800-ton concrete foundation equipped with six base isolators designed to safeguard Endeavour from seismic activity.

Technicians work on preparing NASA’s Space Shuttle Endeavour for vertical display at the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center in Los Angeles on July 20, 2023. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

Endeavour, constructed to replace the Space Shuttle Challenger, embarked on 25 missions from 1992 to 2011. Following the shuttle program's retirement, Endeavour made a memorable journey to California in 2012, transported atop NASA's modified Boeing 747 shuttle carrier. Its flight over key locations linked to the space program drew large crowds. Upon landing at Los Angeles International Airport, the shuttle was carefully transferred to a specialized trailer and paraded through city streets to the California Science Center, captivating onlookers along the way.

A groundbreaking ceremony for the Air and Space Center took place last year, coinciding with the 11th anniversary of Endeavour's final return from space.

December 31st marks the final opportunity to view Endeavour in its current horizontal, landing position at the California Science Center. The shuttle will then be moved across Exposition Park and lifted by crane to be meticulously connected to the external tank. The construction of the Air and Space Center will be finalized around the completed shuttle stack.

The center's fundraising efforts have yielded nearly $350 million towards the $400 million project goal.