New L.A. Space Center Welcomes Home Apollo Capsule

(SANEPR.com) July 15, 2008 -- Officials at the City of Downey announced today that BP-1, a test version of the Apollo space capsule that went to the Moon, would be transported on July 16th from Lancaster’s Apollo Park to their new Columbia Memorial Space Center. BP-19 was constructed in Downey by North American Aviation in 1963 and used in many parachute drop tests.

“I am especially pleased that BP-19 will be returning to its birthplace where it was designed and built, Downey, California,” says Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Curator, Allan A. Needell, “and that BP-19 will be part of an interactive exhibit designed to inform and motivate the public about the rich aerospace history in California, including the manufacture and testing of Apollo Command Modules and capsules.”

The exhibit featuring the Apollo BP-19 will have graphic panels and touch-screen computers providing engaging information on the Apollo missions, the structure and function of command modules, and the testing involved in making capsules safe for astronauts. Designed to inspire the public’s interest in space exploration, the Command Module exhibit is one of many interactive exhibits at the new center including rocket launchers, drop tests, a Space Shuttle simulator, a robotics lab, a computer lab, and a Challenger Learning Center for guided mission simulations.

Downey Mayor David Gafin explained, “The City of Downey is deeply committed to this project and has contributed over 10 million dollars to it. Our new Columbia Memorial Space Center will inspire young people to consider careers in aerospace.”

“Many people don’t know that thousands of aircraft and 20 real spaceships were designed and built in Downey over a 70-year period,” adds Jon Betthauser, the Executive Director at the Columbia Memorial Space Center. “We will change that, while providing all kinds of ways to learn about what’s happening in space exploration right now and in the future.”

The City of Downey, NASA and the National Air & Space Museum have all supported the move of the historic Apollo test capsule in conjunction with strong local support from Aerospace Legacy Foundation, Industrial Realty Group, Downey Studios, Dunkel Bros. Machinery Moving Inc., and the L.A. County Department of Parks & Recreation.

Named an official national memorial to the Space Shuttle Columbia by a joint resolution of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, the City of Downey and the Columbia Memorial Space Center will honor the crew of STS-107 lost on February 1, 2003: Commander Rick Husband, Pilot Willie McCool, Mission Specialists Kalpana Chawla, Laurel Clark and David Brown, Payload Commander Michael Anderson, and Payload Specialist Ilan Ramon.