How We Stacked a Space Shuttle in Downtown L.A.: St. Louis Astronomical Society August Meeting

The Oschin Air and Space Center is now under construction on the campus of the California Science Center in Los Angeles. It will include three multi-level galleries – Aviation, Space, and Shuttle. The Shuttle gallery is being built around a fully assembled NASA Space Shuttle. The Endeavour successfully completed 25 missions in space, including the first mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope. Following the close of the Shuttle program, NASA transferred the Endeavour to the California Science Center in 2012, where it has now been viewed by over 20 million visitors.  The 122-foot-long orbiter weighs 178,000 pounds and has a wingspan of 78 feet. It is stacked on top of two solid-fuel rocket boosters and bolted to a large external fuel tank. The total “stack” is over 200 feet tall. Mr. Tsalyuk will provide an overview of the display project and closer look at the process for assembling, moving, and installing the space shuttle stack. The California Science Center will be the only place in the world to see a complete Space Shuttle System with a flown orbiter mated to real solid rocket boosters and ET-94, the last remaining flight-qualified external tank.

Bradley Tsalyuk is an Exhibit Developer at the California Science Center, where he helps create engaging, educational exhibits that inspire a love for science. Currently he is working on the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center, a 200,000 square foot addition to the Science Center. Previously, he worked for seven years at the San Diego Natural History Museum and The New Children's Museum.

The St. Louis Astronomical Society is an organization for individuals interested in astronomy and telescopes. The public is invited to attend its meetings, telescope observing sessions, and special events. For more information about Astronomical Society events, please visit www.slasonline.org.

Free parking will be available.