Alabama museum to restore full-sized mockup of space shuttle

U.S. & Rocket Center in Alabama anunced plans Tuesday to restore world’s only full-sized mockup of a shuttle coupled with an external fuel tank and twin rocket boosters.

shuttle test model, called Pathfinder, has been wearing outside museum in Huntsville for more than three deces. restoration work will be funded with a $500,000 federal grant and ditional corporate donations, officials said.

shuttle mockup was mated with a huge fuel tank and two proto solid-rocket boosters for display at state-owned museum in 1988. multimillion refurbishment will take several years and involve removing display, repairing it and returning it to its giant concrete stand.

Consisting of a shuttle-shaped metal frame covered with sheeting, Pathfinder was originally used to test ground handling, transportation and or procedures for shuttle. Once testing was completed and it wasn't furr needed by National Aeronautics and ministration.

Pathfinder was outfitted with fiberglass, plywood panels and engines to more closely resemble an actual shuttle.