A shot of the retired NASA Space Shuttle <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/en:Space_Shuttle_Endeavour" class="extiw" title="w:en:Space Shuttle Endeavour"><i>Endeavour</i></a>, Orbiter Vehicle designation OV-105.  Authorized by Congress in 1987 to replace Space Shuttle <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/en:Space_Shuttle_Challenger" class="extiw" title="w:en:Space Shuttle Challenger"><i>Challenger</i></a>, which in 1986 <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/en:Space_Shuttle_Challenger_disaster" class="extiw" title="w:en:Space Shuttle Challenger disaster">exploded 73 seconds after liftoff</a>, it was the fifth spaceworthy space shuttle built by NASA (the first space shuttle built, OV-101 <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/en:Space_Shuttle_Enterprise" class="extiw" title="w:en:Space Shuttle Enterprise"><i>Enterprise</i></a>, did not have engines or a heat shield and was therefore not spaceworthy) and flew 25 missions starting with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/en:STS-49" class="extiw" title="w:en:STS-49">STS-49</a> in May 1992 and ending with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/en:STS-134" class="extiw" title="w:en:STS-134">STS-134</a> in May 2011.
<p>This photo was taken at the shuttle's retirement home, the <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.californiasciencecenter.org/">California Science Center</a> near USC in Downtown Los Angeles.  It was actually quite crowded, and proves to be a very popular attraction months after it was first moved here.  Incidentally, the hangar where the shuttle is currently housed is not its final home; a permanent building and exhibit area to house is is under construction and scheduled for a 2017 completion.  If you are in the area, go check it out; it's only $2 per person to see the shuttle!
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Notable components of the shuttle visible in this photo are the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/en:Reaction_control_system" class="extiw" title="w:en:Reaction control system">RCS</a> thrusters on the nose cone, the cargo bay doors on the top of the shuttle, the windshield, the emergency rescue area (below the "<i>Endeavour</i>" livery), and the various tail components.  In addition, the support system built to hold the shuttle up is visible.  Not visible, though, are the rather complex seismic stabilizers that hold the shuttle stable even in strong earthquakes, a must considering that this is Los Angeles
<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.flickr.com/people/25649741@N04">Andrew "FastLizard4" Adams</a> from United States
CC BY-SA 2.0
<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/fastlizard4/8656523533/">NASA Space Shuttle Endeavour (OV-105)</a>