STENNIS — By 2010, a new interactive science center should be available for children at Stennis Space to boost interest in the fields of science and technology.
Plans for the $42 million INFINITY center tout state of the art touring attractions. Thursday, the center received a $500,000 donation from a long time Stennis facility, Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne.
“We are certainly proud to be part of it and proud our employees will be involved in it,” said PWR president Jim Maser.
Roy Estess, INFINITY board member and former Stennis director, said the goal is to raise enough money, about $26 million to $27 million, to construct the building. The remaining money in the grand total will be used for constructing the interior of the building, Estess said. So far $10 million has been earmarked by the state and $9 million has been set aside by NASA to construct the building. Estess said those donations are contingent on the remainder of the money being raised from private donors to construct the building.
Estess said board members plan to hold a fund to raise the remainder of the money raiser. They hope more aerospace or private sector businesses will step up at the fund raiser and donate money for the facility.
Exhibits expected to be included in the center include an Earth gallery where the focus will be on the scientific aspects of the planet, space gallery where NASA will share its knowledge of the frontier and an environment gallery, Estess said. Pratt&Whitney; Rocketdyne plan to include models or retired versions of their engines as exhibits, Maser said.
The goal of the center will be to excite children about careers in science and technology, Estess said.
The center will cater to Mississippi and Louisiana residents as well as anyone passing through Hancock County.
Maser said PWR has been part of Stennis for about 40 years and has been building rocket engines since the Applo missions and plans to continue their work during the Ares missions when the shuttle is retired. He hopes that children who tour the INFINITY science center will someday consider working for Pratt&Whitney; Rocketdyne.
More information about the center can be found at http://www.infinitysciencecenter.org/.
Local News
Related Photos
-
By Jeremy Pittari
April 25, 2008
Rocketdyne donates to INFINITY
- Local News
-
-
SIDEWALK WORK CONTINUES
SIDEWALK WORK CONTINUES — Jeffrey Hartfield, left, and Eddie Fry finish up sidewalk work in front of Snyder Park on Beech Street on Thursday. They work for RJM, which subcontracted the work from HSI. Almost the full length of Beech is getting a workover in a $400,000 project.
-
CROSSES ERECTED
St. Charles Catholic Church on Goodyear Boulevard has erected crosses it says represents the number of abortion daily in the U.S.
- Shooting suspects bound to grand jury Two of the three suspects involved in December’s deadly shoot-out have been bound over to the grand jury. Those defendants are 27-year-old Quincy Jones and 31-year-old Decori King.
- Saturday noon is last chance to register to vote in March 13 primaries The heated race to see who will get the Republican nomination for President continues and is coming to Pearl River County, as voters trek to the polls to vote in the Republican and Democratic presidential primaries on March 13, and in the primaries for the U.S. Senate and congressional races.
- Friends of Boley discuss next cleanup Members of the Friends of Boley met Thursday morning to plan for their next big cleanup. With the next cleanup scheduled for April 21, Christy Goss, a city employee, suggested combining that effort with the Great American Cleanup the city participates in each year.
-
SAFETY DAY
Picayune Police officers made a visit to the First Baptist Church of Picayune’s preschool class for their Community Helpers Safety Day. During the event the kids got to meet police officers and trigger lights and sirens in patrol vehicles.
- Escapee caught in county Pearl River County Sheriff’s deputies have captured the inmate who escaped from Mississippi Department of Corrections custody on Friday after attending his father’s wake in Picayune.
- Council discusses which funds to spend first On the same day as the ground breaking for the addition to the historic City Hall, city council members discussed which funds to spend first in its construction.
-
Poplarville aldermen honor Holliday, get audit report briefing
The city board of aldermen honored former District Three Supervisor Hudson Holliday at its Tuesday night meeting.
Mayor Billy Spiers presented Holliday with a framed resolution of appreciation for his dedication and service to the city while serving as county supervisor.
-
MRI INSTALLED
This $1.2 million Magnetic Resonance Imaging equipment was installed at the new location of Highland Community Hospital.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs
Expert: Removing LA School's Staff 'Appropriate'
Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal
$25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses
Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
