February 11 - Beyel Brothers Crane and Rigging has transported a mock-up space shuttle, Inspiration, from the now closed Astronaut Hall of Fame site in Florida to its temporary home at the company's Merritt Island boat yard.
Beyel Bros spent a month preparing for the transport of Inspiration, which measures 122 ft (37.1 m) long with a height of 57 ft (17.3 m) and a wing span of 78 ft (23.7 m).
The shuttle, which weighed almost 149,675 lb (67.89 tonnes), was first moved by road on a 144-wheel trailer, before being loaded on Beyel Bros' 134 ft (40.8 m) barge, Blake Beyel, and transported down the Indian River to Merritt Island.
The full-scale model space shuttle will undergo a USD5 million upgrade at Beyel Bros' boat yard, which will see its wings folded up in order to facilitate transportation of the unit.
The shuttle has been bought by LVX Sytem, which intends to use it for educational purposes. It will be transported by barge through various locks and bridges throughout the USA.
Photo credit: Julian Leek.
Photo credit: Julian Leek.
