Inspiration was housed in a tent outside the Columbia Memorial Space Science Learning Center in Downey, California. Originally unnamed, it was named Inspiration on September 24, 2012. Clear plastic, prismatic ceiling panels have fine crazing cracks, and are starting to become detached at their fasteners.' Delicate plastic components also appear to be degrading slightly. Adhesive mounts and backing for a range of fasteners have become yellowed and embrittled. Paper components representing insulation or other lining of the sub-deck are disintegrating. The outer skin of the shuttle, made of plywood on a wooden frame, is buckling slightly and showing signs of internal delamination. 'Some deterioration processes are already underway. The cost of refurbishment is estimated at US$1 million, with another million required for a building to house Inspiration.

Refurbishment and naming Īfter it sat in storage for many years, in 2012 the owners decided to refurbish Inspiration. The mockup was abandoned in place by NASA, so the owners of the property placed it on temporary display at the Columbia Memorial Space Science Learning Center in Downey, California, in July 2012. It was also used to design cable harnesses for production shuttle Orbiters and to test-fit flight hardware. The mockup is approximately the same size and shape as an actual Orbiter. It was shown to NASA and Congress to win approval for the space shuttle program. The Space Shuttle Orbiter mockup was constructed by North American Rockwell in 1972.

Nasa space shuttle names alphabetically