Columbia Memorial Space Center breaks ground on major expansion
From left: Downey City Manager Roger Bradley; Mayor Pro Tem Dorothy Pemberton; Columbia Memorial Space Center Executive Director Ben Dickow; Columbia Memorial Space Center Board Member Nader Moghaddam; Mayor Hector Sosa; former NASA astronaut Garrett Reisman, Columbia Memorial Space Center board members and former mayors Mario Guerra, Roger Brossmer and Alex Saab; state Sen. Bob Archuleta; and Councilman Mario Trujillo. (City of Downey photo)
DOWNEY – The Columbia Memorial Space Center broke ground Monday on a 40,000-square-foot expansion that will finally bring Downey’s original space shuttle mockup — known as Inspiration — back into public view.
The new facility, planned as the centerpiece of the Space Center’s growing campus, will house the full-scale shuttle mockup along with new exhibit areas and indoor-outdoor learning space. The expansion is part of a long-term vision to elevate STEM education in the region while preserving the site’s deep aerospace history.
Monday’s groundbreaking ceremony drew local and state leaders, including Space Center executive director Ben Dickow, state Sen. Bob Archuleta, board chair Nader Moghaddam and former NASA astronaut Garrett Reisman, who helped send the final shuttles into space.
“We built a space shuttle and the Apollo capsules on this hollow ground, and I’m honored to continue serving on the board of directors alongside three other former mayors and friends. We’ll carry forward the legacy that is so vital today,” said Mario Guerra, who was mayor when the space center opened in 2009.
“This new building will be stunning when it houses the Inspiration Space Shuttle. Our children, grandchildren, and visitors from all over California will be able to come here to learn, dream, and reach for the stars. It is a place for future generations to connect with space history, learn, have hands-on experiences and be inspired.”
The expansion will give permanent public visibility to Inspiration, the first full-scale space shuttle mockup ever built. The shuttle was designed and constructed on-site in 1972 by North American Aviation — later Rockwell International — which operated in Downey for decades and built Apollo command modules and every space shuttle orbiter.
Former NASA astronaut Garrett Reisman speaks at Monday’s groundbreaking. (City of Downey photo)
Facing a tight federal budget after the Apollo missions, NASA sought a reusable spacecraft concept. Engineers in Downey responded by building a life-size shuttle from wood and plastic to demonstrate the viability of the idea. At 122 feet long and 35 feet tall, the mockup served as a “fit check” tool for component sizing, wiring layout, cargo bay development and early design reviews. It even featured a detailed flight deck and crew cabin.
The mockup captivated federal officials and helped Downey secure the contract for the Space Shuttle Program — a decision that launched nearly 25 years of shuttle production in the city.
The shuttle remained on the Downey site through the 1990s, where it was used for testing, education and public relations. Visitors over the years included elected officials, NASA leadership and even Queen Elizabeth II.
After Rockwell’s plant closed in 1999, Inspiration was moved into storage and later relocated during redevelopment of the former aerospace site. It spent more than a decade sealed and unseen before being transferred in 2024 to a temporary facility on Apollo Way.
In 2012, the Columbia Memorial Space Center held a public naming contest, with a Downey student submitting the winning name Inspiration in honor of the shuttle’s role as the original design model for the entire fleet.
With support from then-Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia, the State of California awarded the Space Center a $5.8 million grant in 2019 to begin planning a permanent home for the shuttle. Monday’s groundbreaking marks the official start of construction on that facility.
When completed, the expansion will offer a rare, immersive experience inside a shuttle-scale environment. Renderings show raised viewing platforms, interactive exhibits, event space and a clear view into the mockup’s cargo bay — allowing visitors to explore a key piece of shuttle history that once shaped missions from Challenger to Endeavour.
“This building will be a landmark not only for Downey, but for the entire region,” Moghaddam said.
The Inspiration exhibit is expected to anchor a larger long-term plan to create a comprehensive space and science campus that preserves Downey’s role in America’s space program while inspiring future engineers, scientists and explorers.