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
Rocketdyne donates to INFINITY
- Local News
-
-
PMHS GRADUATION
Picayune Memorial High School held its graduation ceremony Thursday night where the school’s valedictorian Jared Christopher Bates, left, and salutatorian Bryce Austin Warden gave their speeches.
-
POPLARVILLE GRADUATION
Poplarville High School held its graduation ceremony Thursday night where the school’s valedictorian Rebecca Starke, left, and salutatorian Meagan Whitworth gave their speeches to the graduating class, parents and friends.
-
Local man paralyzed by juvenile shooting
Medical personnel were teaching a local man how to swallow again on Saturday after his spinal cord was severed by a .22 caliber bullet, fired by one of three juveniles, on Thursday.
-
Potential bridge replacement fund shortage draws discussion
Despite a lengthy agenda for Pearl River County supervisors Wednesday the board handled many of the items with a straight up and down 5-0 vote.
-
Glade Woods dies
Funeral services for Earl Glade Woods , 75 of Picayune, are Monday at 11 a.m. at First Baptist Church of Picayune. Woods passed away on Friday.
-
MHP on patrol for holiday
Even though there has been a remarkable reduction in the number of fatalities in Mississippi over the past seven years, last year’s Memorial Day Weekend was particularly deadly.
-
POLICE MEMORIAL
City employees were out at the Picayune Police Department memorial Thursday morning doing some upgrades to it.
-
ACCIDENT
ACCIDENT — Emergency personnel responded to this accident Thursday morning on South Haugh Avenue.
-
Supervisors support sales tax proposal
The Pearl River County Board of Supervisors unanimously supports District 1 Supervisor Anthony Hales proposal for a 1-percent county sales tax.
Hales had outlined his proposal at two earlier meetings of the board of supervisors and the other four members voiced their support for the idea at Wednesday’s meeting. -
Lawrence sentenced to 57 months for child porn
Picayune native Clifford Lawrence has been sentenced to four years and nine months in prison for possession of child pornography.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Beryl Makes Landfall on Florida Coast
Service Dogs Help Wash. Soldiers Battling PTSD
Raw Video: Heckler Bursts in on Blair Testimony
Japan Farmers Plant, Seek Radiation-free Rice
UN Blames Syrian Forces for Shelling Houla
Raw Video: Gay Protest Blocked in Moscow
Vatican in Chaos After Butler Arrested for Leaks
Jimmy Carter Endorses Egypt's Election Results
Biden Addresses West Point Graduating Class
Dozens of Children Killed in New Syria Attack
Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
