[users@httpd] mod_rewrite : Can a space in a URL be preserved ?

[ABAPGUY]

Hi Apache experts,
I am using Apache 2.0.59 as a Reverse Proxy using mod_rewrite and mod_proxy .
I have a downstream J2EE server that is creating URLs with a space in them . 
How can I use mod_rewrite (which sees %20) to write the space ..instead of %20 ?
 
Regards
Daniel