— The retired space shuttle

IN CALIFORNIA, the saying goes, they do everything on a huge scale, and if the California Science Centre in Los Angeles is any indication, the assertion is true.

Situated on Exposition Drive near a number of other significant cultural institutions, including the city’s natural history museum and the Californian African American Museum, the Science Centre comprises enormous buildings dedicated to permanent displays of biological and engineering marvels.

Of special interest, however, is the Samuel Oschin Pavilion, opened in 2012. This cavernous area is dedicated to exhibits exploring the theme of space travel.

NASA’S Space Shuttle Endeavour has pride of place, dwarfing pretty much everything else and allowing visitors to get up close and personal with the literal and symbolic embodiment of a key period in humanity’s ongoing quest to explore what lies beyond.

The pavilion includes several other space-related exhibits and environments, including a Space Shuttle engine, a workshop built for astronauts to use while aloft, the Rocketdyne Operations Support Centre (which was used during shuttle launches) – and even Endeavour’s toilet.

Admission to the permanent exhibitions at the Science Centre is free, although temporary blockbuster installations may attract a fee. The place is open every day of the year between 10am and 5pm, except for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.

For more information visit californiasciencecenter.org