The space shuttle Endeavour began its final mission Wednesday, going on display at the California Science Center in Los Angeles. The orbiter carried astronauts into orbit 25 times over its operational lifetime.
The public exhibit marks the culmination of years of effort to preserve and showcase the retired spacecraft. Endeavour's display offers visitors a close look at a key piece of spaceflight history.
Endeavour was built to replace the Challenger orbiter and flew its first mission in 1992. Its 25 flights included servicing the Hubble Space Telescope and assembling the International Space Station.
The shuttle is now housed in a new permanent gallery at the science center. Museum officials hope the exhibit will inspire future generations of engineers and explorers.
Critics note that displaying retired spacecraft in museums may reduce public urgency for continued investment in human space exploration. Some argue that focusing on past achievements could distract from current challenges facing NASA's Artemis program.