'Inspiration' shuttle moves to Downey for restoration and future display at space center

The "Inspiration" prototype will have a new home.

It never went into space, but a full-size original space shuttle design prototype built in 1972 strolled along a Downey street Thursday, in pieces.

The prototype was part of Rockwell International's ultimately successful bid to build NASA's shuttles.

The prototype has moved to a renovation facility ahead of its planned display in a new exhibit hall at the Columbia Memorial Space Center.

The mock-up, measuring 122 feet long and 35 feet tall, was constructed as a prototype for the future shuttles, thus it stands as the first shuttle ever built, although it never left the Earth. As a full-scale model, the mock- up was later used as a fitting tool for instruments and payloads that were being planned for the actual NASA shuttles.

In 2012, it was affectionately given the name "Inspiration," as the original design model for the space shuttle program.

More than 10 years ago, however, Inspiration was disassembled and placed in storage while plans were considered for a possible permanent future display. Earlier this year, the city of Downey approved plans for a roughly 20,000-square-foot facility expanding the Columbia Memorial Space Center and housing Inspiration and other science-education exhibits.

In advance of that project, which is expected to begin next year, the Inspiration made a meticulous move spanning three city blocks Thursday morning. The disassembled mock-up was moved in large pieces aboard specialized moving equipment for the journey. Additional smaller pieces are expected to be moved Friday.

Inspiration will undergo a full renovation and reassembly to prepare it for its ultimate move into the new exhibit space.

The space center is also embarking on a $50 million fundraising campaign to help cover the costs of construction of the new facility, along with the specialized exhibits and science-education programs.

Additional reporting by City News Service.