Galileo Shuttlecraft Beams Into Space Center Houston; 'Star Trek' Craft Reaches Its Final Frontier

'Star Trek's' Galileo shuttlecraft has been caught in the tractor beams of Space Center Houston. The Galileo shuttlecraft is the original vehicle used in the Jan. 5, 1967 “Star Trek” episode called “Galileo 7.” The craft was bought by a fan at auction and restored. The Galileo shuttlecraft will be on permanent exhibit in Space Center Houston's "Zero-G Diner."

The Galileo shuttlecraft was unveiled at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Texas, yesterday at an event filled with celebrities that include Don Marshall, who played Lieutenant Boma of Starfleet, one of the actors from the Galileo Shuttlecraft's debut episode.

The Galileo shuttlecraft made its first appearance on the 16th episode of "Star Trek." Desilu, Star Trek’s producers, couldn't afford to build the 23-foot-long by 8-foot-tall shuttlecraft at first and relied on transporter effects. But later they sprung for a life-size starship. The Galileo shuttlecraft landed on the planet “Taurus II” with Mr. Spock, played by Leonard Nimor, commanding. Also on board was Boma, played by Don Marshall and Dr. McCoy, played by DeForest Kelly. The craft was damaged in the episode, but not as damaged as it would be in real life.

As the drape covering the Galileo shuttlecraft was pulled way, actor Don Marshall announced "This is Galileo!"

Also on hand for the unveiling of the Galileo shuttlecraft were actors Robert Picardo, who played "The Doctor" in "Star Trek: Voyager," Sylvester McCoy, who was the seventh "Doctor" from British science fiction series "Doctor Who," Tracy Scoggins, who played Captain Elizabeth Lockley in “Babylon 5" and Gil Gerard who played Captain William Buck Rogers from the series "Buck Rogers in 25th Century."

NASA astronaut Mike Fincke told SPACE.com "This is one of our ideas as to what a shuttle should be. I had a chance to fly on a real space shuttle, so there is a connection. And it is an exciting connection because now it can be made by everyone. Come to Space Center Houston, be inspired and who knows what some of these kids who are going to be inspired what they are going to build in the future.
The Galileo shuttlecraft landed on the planet “Taurus II” with Mr. Spock, played by Leonard Nimor, commanding. Also on board was Boma, played by Don Marshall and Dr. McCoy, played by DeForest Kelly. The craft was damaged in the episode, but not as damaged as it would be in real life.

The Galileo shuttlecraft was built by a car customizer. It was made of steel, wood, and sheet-metal shuttlecraft. 'Star Trek' superfan Adam Schneider bought the Galileo shuttlecraft at an online auction in June 2012 for $61,000. Schneider worked with "Star Trek" blogger Alec Peters and a team of Master Shipwrights in New Jersey to restor the shuttlecraft to its original glory. Under the guidance of craftsman Hans Mikatis , they used photos and tips from Star Trek fans. Repairs took nine months.

Schneider said "If you had told us a year and a month ago that we would have been able to obtain this thing [and] that we'd be able to figure out how to fix it ... and that we'd be able to donate it to Space Center Houston, the home of America's manned space program, I would have said that's just fabulous."

Richard Allen, president and CEO of Space Center Houston, said "The addition of Galileo adds to the rich history of space exploration as it pays tribute to the way science fiction ignites our imaginations and has inspired generations of innovators. Galileo will join the ranks of many other inspiring exhibits at Space Center Houston, including the recent space shuttle mockup addition and the biggest expansion in our history, the 747 Shuttle Carrier Project. As Galileo takes it place at Space Center Houston, it does so to capture the imagination and inspire the next generations. It will serve as a tool with which we can imagine endless possibilities."

Space Center Houston has also hosted costumes and props from the "Star Wars" movies. A full-size Starfighter vessel and an original lightsaber have been exhibited.