July 2013
Today in Mississippi
15
The future of Infinity is endless
By Nancy Jo Maples Infinity isn’t a museum. It’s a science center filled with endless possibilities. The mathematical term seems a perfect fit for the name of Stennis Space Center’s new discovery facility designed to draw school-age children toward jobs in science industries. “We’re hoping to inspire youth to look at careers in STEM fields,” said Guy Johnson, of Coast Electric Power Association. Johnson serves on Infinity Science Center’s board of directors, and Coast Electric supplies electricity to the Stennis site. Johnson said one goal of Infinity is to motivate the next generation of scientists. STEM is an acronym for science, technology, engineering and math. Visitors can view the space suit worn by astronaut Fred Haise of Apollo 13, which was moon-bound in 1970 but due to technical difficulties circled the moon while Haise and fellow crewmen underwent an intense repair of their ship before successfully returning to Earth. (See story on page 4.) Among the exhibits is a replica of an international space station module, an omega flight simulator thrill ride and several hands-on activities for children. Certain days offer additional treats. Sometimes visitors can sample salads made from lettuce grown in a controlled environment, an experiment being done in anticipation of space travel and life on other planets. Like many spacedriven experiments this practice could be used one day in American homes. Guests are greeted at the entranceway by the Infinity Eagle, a bird crafted by coast artist Marlin Miller from spacecraft metals and from wood salvaged after Hurricane Katrina. Dotting the landscape surrounding a shaded outdoor picnic area are retired boats and buoys used in collecting weather data in the ocean. The center also has a restaurant with burgers, salads and Gulf Coast seafood dishes. Tish Williams, director of the Hancock County Chamber of Commerce, has been involved with Infinity since its onset in 1999. “The chamber has been an advocate from the beginning and is honored to be the managing
contractor. We’re interested in restoring lost tourism, fueling businesses, improving education and providing a better workforce. Those are components of Infinity’s mission and they are components of the chamber’s mission,” she said. A $10 million grant has been approved for completing the indoor and outdoor experiences of Infinity’s original vision. Those include a wetlands demonstration area, Mars and ocean exploration exhibits, lunar habitat missions and a heritage trail. Infinity tickets cost $10 for ages 18-54, $8 for ages 55 and older and for military, and $6 for ages 4-17. Younger children are admitted free. The ticket includes a bus tour of the Stennis Space Center, which is restricted from the general public. Stennis, NASA’s rocket testing site, opened in 1963 after 2,202 residents moved from their homes to provide land for the government to build an engine testing site. Promoters of the venture Visitors tour a full-sized International Space Station module, above, in the Space Gallery area of Infinity Science Center, as well as other coined the phrase, “If you want to go to the moon you space-related exhibits, left. Artist Marlin Miller and his son, Preston, created the 32-foot-tall Infinity Eagle sculpture, below have to go through left, which combines spacecraft metals from NASA’s Stennis Space Mississippi,” because every Center and wood salvaged after Hurricane Katrina. Infinity is a rocket engine is tested in member of Coast Electric Power Association. Hancock County. “In Hancock County, we like hearing the sounds of loud noises from Stennis,” Williams said. Stennis Space Center provides 5,300 jobs, covers 140,000 acres and is a federal city with a fire station, medical clinic, gas stations, banks and post office. It is Stennis Space Center, MS 39529. However, it has no citizens; everyone commutes into the city for work. Until last year a museum called StennisSphere was located inside a non-restricted portion of the site. Infinity replaced it and is located outside the gate at the Interstate 10 Welcome Center, giving easier public access. This positioning doubled the number of visitors StennisSphere had previously attracted. From its opening in April 2012 through its first anniversary, Infinity greeted 60,000 guests. Additional exhibits and enhanced publicity are expected to make those numbers climb to as high as 300,000 per year. Infinity pulls a large number of tourists from Louisiana because it sits near the state line at Exit 2 on I-10. Statistics predict its market includes 296,000 school children living within a 50-mile radius. A field trip for pupils from as far away as Mobile, Ala., is also feasible. Infinity’s name fits not only because of the math jobs it can inspire but also because the grant and visions that have made it reality make it a work in progress with possibilities that are…infinite. For more information call 228-533-9025 or visit the Infinity website at www.visitinfinity.com. Writer Nancy Jo Maples can be reached at 188 Ernest Pipkins Road, Lucedale, MS 39452 or via email at nancyjomaples@aol.com.