Off to the Space Centre

OK, this is a bit nerdy, and not my usual thing, but Joey was keen.  And so we went to the INFINITY Centre not far from here and linked to a major NASA complex.  (I have to admit it is actually a cool place.)

INFINITY Center

Detail of eagle sculpture in front of Center

INFINITY is basically a science centre focussed on the history of the exploration of space and the technology that made it possible.  Besides the exhibits, you get to take a bus tour of the nearby restricted NASA site, called the Stennis Space Center, which is where they test space rocket engines!

Two rocket testing silos in the Stennis complex

The Stennis site was developed in the 1960s on a huge track of swamp and lowland on the Pearl River, which forms the border between Louisiana and Mississippi.  They even built a short canal, modelled on the Panama Canal, to bring in the enormously big and heavy rocket engines by barge from the Gulf.

Canal and locks in the Stennis complex

Back inside the centre, the most interesting exhibits had to do with the Apollo moon mission, the current Curiosity mission to Mars and the International Space Station.  There were lots of models of famous American spacecraft, including the Curiosity rover.

Full-scale wooden model of the Mars Curiosity rover

 By the way, Curiosity took it first picture of Earth from the surface of the Red Planet on January 31.

My favourite exhibit was a model of the Destiny module spaceship.  Since 2001 the Destiny module has been the primary operating facility for U.S. research aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

Exterior of ISS Destiny spacecraft (note Canadian flag with others above)

Entrance to Destiny module

Private compartment -- you sleep strapped in (on left)

Hanging out in zero gravity -- the blue handles help you maneuvre