A full-size model of the space shuttle orbiter, known as “Inspiration,” is finally returning to public display after more than 25 years in storage. The City of Downey in California has been working on plans to exhibit this North American Rockwell model since its rediscovery in 2012. Recently, state lawmakers approved $800,000 for the restoration of this plywood and plastic space shuttle mockup, with plans to showcase it at the Columbia Memorial Space Center in Discovery Park.
The city completed an environmental review earlier this year for the Space Shuttle Exhibit & Education Building Project, which will include a 29,000-square-foot expansion to the space center. This building will house the 122-foot-long original concept model for NASA’s winged orbiters, along with event spaces, offices, and classrooms. The relocation of the large pieces of the space shuttle mockup is scheduled for October 17 and 18, 2024, where it will be reassembled and restored for display.
The model, named “Inspiration,” has been sitting in outdoor storage covered in plastic tarps, and preparations are now underway to move it to a facility where it can be restored. Public viewing of the move will be available, and work on the new display home is expected to begin in 2025.
In addition to the space shuttle mockup, the building will also house temporary exhibits, such as small Mars rover models and space-flown Dragon capsules. This exhibit in Downey will add to the collection of space shuttles on display in the Los Angeles area, including the California Science Center at Exposition Park.
The original space shuttle mockup was used by North American Rockwell (now Boeing) as a fit check tool for instruments and payloads during the shuttle program. It was later put into storage in 1999 when the plant closed. The Columbia Memorial Space Center, where the mockup will be displayed, was named in honor of NASA’s first winged orbiter lost in 2003.
Overall, the restoration and display of the space shuttle mockup in Downey will not only preserve aerospace history but also inspire a new generation of space enthusiasts. The project signifies a significant step in bringing this piece of space exploration history back into the public eye for everyone to enjoy.