NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Space shuttle Endeavour, mounted atop its strongback transporter frame on seismic pedestal supports, is shown in the Samuel Oschin Pavilion at the California Science Center in Los Angeles prior to the exhibit's grand opening ceremonies Oct. 30. (NASA / Bill Ingalls) › View Larger Image

David McBride, director of NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, visits with members of the robotics team from Beckman High School of Irvine, Calif., at the NASA SpaceFest at the California Science Center in Los Angeles. McBride represented NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden at the grand opening of the Space Shuttle Endeavour exhibit at the center Oct. 30. (NASA / Jay Levine) › View Larger Image As part of the grand opening activities for Space Shuttle Endeavour, NASA is presenting SpaceFest, a six-day exhibit at the California Science Center at Exposition Park in Los Angeles continuing through Sunday, Nov. 4, 2012.

NASA's SpaceFest is free to the public and includes three dozen exhibits, displays, and educational demonstrations honoring aeronautics and space exploration past, present, and future. Visitors to SpaceFest will learn about current NASA research missions, future space travel, and NASA involvement in enhancing aeronautics. The event also provides an opportunity for guests to meet and hear current and former astronauts speaking about their experiences.

SpaceFest activities and booths are in the Annenberg Building just east of the park's rose garden and a short walk from the center's main building and the Endeavour exhibit in the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center Pavilion. Tickets are not required for SpaceFest.

Astronauts are sharing stories of their experiences daily in the Donald P. Loker Conference Center in the science center¹s main building. Free, timed tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis at the NASA information booth near the science center's main box office.

SpaceFest is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. through Friday, Nov. 2 and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 3 and 4.

Astronaut presentations will take place through Friday at 10:15 a.m., 11:15 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. with school groups given first preference. Remaining tickets are distributed at the NASA information booth. Astronaut presentations on Saturday are at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. and on Sunday at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

A group of students and their teachers listen intently as Kevin Rohrer of NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center explains flight principles by the NASA Aeronautics exhibit at the NASA SpaceFest at the California Science Center in Los Angeles. (NASA / Steve Lighthill) › View Larger Image Space Shuttle Endeavour Exhibition viewing times in the center's nearby Samuel Oschin Pavilion are from 10 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Although admission to the Endeavour exhibit is free, visitors must obtain tickets from the California Science Center. Specific-time reserved tickets are recommended for a fee of $3 for non-members and $2 for members of the science center who reserve online at www.californiasciencecenter.org.

Parking will be limited on Saturday due to the USC-Oregon football game in the adjoining Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Guests may wish to park at the Staples Center and take public transportation to the science center.

The California Science Center is located at 700 Exposition Park Drive in Exposition Park, Exposition Boulevard and Figueroa Street just south of downtown Los Angeles, adjacent to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The Samuel Oschin Pavilion housing Endeavour is immediately west of the center's main building adjacent to the south lawn area. The Annenberg building is located on Kinsey Drive adjacent to the science center's main complex, east of the park's rose garden.