The U.S. Space & Rocket Center is the best candidate to oversee the construction of a replacement rocket at the Alabama welcome center on Interstate 65 in Ardmore, according to a state lawmaker.

“There are some finer details to work out, but we will soon be on a clear path for its future design and construction,” said State Rep. Andy Whitt, who chairs the House Economic Development and Tourism Committee.

Whitt said the replacement rocket will be discussed in committee this week. The replacement rocket will be a replica of the Saturn IB that stood at the now renovated welcome center on the Tennessee state line.

“We certainly have the plans moving forward,” said Whitt, who also represents the area. “The $7 million has been secured. Now we think we’ve adopted a plan to get it up, at least get the RFP (request for proposal).”

The previous rocket was on loan from NASA. The replicate will not be.

The previous rocket, developed at Huntsville’s Marshall Space Flight Center, had been in place at the rest stop since about 1979 before it was dismantled in 2023. There was a months-long effort to save the deteriorating rocket, but NASA and the rocket center said that after four decades of being exposed to the elements, the rocket was in no condition to be preserved and the cost would be prohibitive.

The Saturn IB was smaller than the Saturn V rocket, which carried men to the moon in the Apollo program, which is on display inside the rocket center. A rocket center report from 2022 described the IB rocket as an “overlooked workhorse of the Apollo program.” Among its tasks was launching Skylab into space.

The welcome center itself reopened in October 2024 after being closed for closed for nearly two years. It underwent renovations to update the lobby and facilities and improve the sidewalks and outdoor grounds totaling $14.6 million.