Commander Mark Kelly, STS-134 Crew Participate

The Space Shuttle Endeavour officially has a new owner. The title transfer to the California Science Center was finalized Tuesday morning with former NASA astronaut and STS-134 Commander Mark Kelly, the STS-134 crew, NASA Associate Deputy Administrator Richard Keegan and California Science Center President Jeffrey N. Rudolph. Also present to witness the title transfer to the California Science Center Foundation were California State Consumer Services Agency Secretary Anna Caballero, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts, Senator Curren Price, Assemblyman Steve Bradford, Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley Thomas, and Senior Advisor to the California Science Center Foundation for EndeavourLA Steve Soboroff. The event included more than 400 business, community and philanthropic leaders as well as Science Center members and Science Center School students.

Endeavour Docked At ISS

A highlight of the event was the display of four flown tires – from Atlantis, Discovery and Columbia. Commander Mark Kelly and the astronauts - Michael Fincke, Gregory Johnson and Andrew Feustel – gave a slide presentation on their experiences with the Endeavour, as the STS-134 crew which flew Endeavour's final space mission. "NASA is pleased to share this wonderful orbiter with the California Science Center to help inspire a new generation of explorers," said NASA Administrator Charles F. Bolden.  "The next chapter in space exploration begins now, and we're standing on the shoulders of the men and women of the shuttle program to reach farther into the solar system."

California Science Center President Jeffrey Rudolph said, "Today marks the beginning of Endeavour's new mission to stimulate interest in science and engineering in future generations."

Rudolph also announced the launch of EndeavourLA, a comprehensive fundraising campaign to raise $200 million, which will help bring Endeavour to Los Angeles, create a new Air and Space Center, and support ongoing programs and operations. Members of the public can donate by visiting www.BringEndeavourHome.org. In addition to making a general donation to support EndeavourLA, the public can sponsor a thermal protection system tile and be associated with Endeavour in perpetuity. Sponsorship levels begin at $1,000.

 "Having Endeavour at the California Science Center will serve to motivate and inspire millions of young people to dream about possibilities and will attract people from around the world to our great city," said Mayor Villaraigosa. "The Endeavour, as a historical treasure, will be a brilliant centerpiece for Los Angeles and will assist in our city's economic revitalization."

FMI: www.californiasciencecenter.org