NASA Administrator General Charles Bolden announced today that the California Science Center is one of four institutions chosen to receive a Space Shuttle Orbiter for permanent display. The announcement came during a ceremony at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida marking the 30th anniversary of the first space shuttle launch.
"We are thrilled with the distinguished honor of being awarded the flown Space Shuttle Orbiter Endeavour. We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to NASA Administrator General Bolden and all of those at NASA who have demonstrated their confidence in the California Science Center and recognize the importance of returning the Endeavour to its home in California," notes Science Center President Jeffrey N. Rudolph. "The Endeavour will provide an educational platform for the public to celebrate California's long time leadership in science, technology, mathematics and engineering. We are confident that it will serve to motivate and inspire millions of young people to dream about possibilities and will attract and engage the next generation of California's and our nation's workforce in these fields."
The California Science Center has a gallery dedicated to air and space artifacts and the addition of the Space Shuttle supports the goals of its 25-year Master Plan, which includes building an entirely new gallery devoted to aeronautics and space exploration. The Science Center's proposal to NASA included the support of federal, state, city and county leaders, including Governor Jerry Brown, former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Senator Barbara Boxer, Senator Dianne Feinstein, former Congresswoman Diane Watson, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, the California Congressional Delegation, State Senator Curren Price, Assembly Member Mike Davis, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Councilman Bernard Parks and the Los Angeles City Council, and Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas.
The Science Center welcomes 1.4 million guests annually. For more information about NASA's placement of the space shuttle orbiters, visit:http://www.nasa.gov/transition
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