Space shuttle transfer: city gets $100,000 to exclude space shuttle mock up from Tierra Luna development

Jan. 09, 2012 by Ben Baeder

DOWNEY – The developer of the Tierra Luna project has agreed to pay the city $100,000 to exclude a life-sized mockup of the space shuttle from its 77-acre property.

When the city sold the NASA site to Industrial Realty Group in 2003, the contract required IRG to keep the 122-by-78-foot model on its property.

But the City Council on Tuesday will consider taking a $100,000 payment from IRG to take the fake shuttle off the developer’s hands.

The city will get the money if it finds a location for the shuttle by June 1.

While the shuttle mock-up is a prized piece of memorabilia, it is in disrepair.

The city will likely have to spend thousands of dollars to make it safe to climb around inside.

City officials have talked about storing the shuttle near the Columbia Memorial Space Center or lending it to a museum in exchange for other exhibits.