NASA’s INFINITY Science Center reopens nearly six months after its COVID-19 closure

STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. — The INFINITY Science Center at NASA’s Stennis Space Center on the Mississippi coast welcomed visitors back last week for the first time since the visitor’s center was closed Dec. 30 in response to the COVID-19 outbreak in Mississippi.

The popular destination, which typically draws an average of about 60,000 visitors per year, held a day-long grand reopening last week which featured special attractions such as Stennis astronaut mascots Orbie and Starla; Star Wars characters Chewbacca, Darth Vader and R2-D2; representatives of the International Star Trek Fan Association, the Mandeville (La.) Robotics Team 2992, and more, including numerous hands-on activities hosted by Stennis visitor relations specialists.

Visitors were excited to see the facility reopen.

“This place is awesome,” said Robert Watson, traveling with his family from Florida. “The kids are enjoying it. I’ve had fun. Everything so far, so good, and we are going to the 3D theatre later, too.”

The INFINITY Science Center replaced the original StennisSphere visitor’s center. The 72,000 square-foot facility is located on 122 acres donated by NASA for the project. The $30 million project was funded through a combination of state, corporate and private donations, including $12 million in funding from the Governor’s Commission on Recovery, Rebuilding and Renewal in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

Additional funding from the state through the restoration funds received as a result of the 2010 DeepWater Horizon oil spill allowed for the construction of enhanced nature trails, an environmental monitoring education program, guided tram tours, a Possum Walk Trail, and new indoor and outdoor exhibits.

INFINITY’s original grand opening was held in April 11, 2012 — the anniversary of the date Apollo 13 launched, chosen because Biloxi native and Apollo 13 astronaut Fred Haise was one of the driving forces behind bringing Infinity to life. Haise’s space suit from the ill-fated flight is one of the more popular exhibits at Infinity.

Other exhibits, including a mock-up of the International Space Station and an unused Saturn V rocket, fire the imagination of young and old alike.

“I probably want to be an astrophysicist,” said 12-year-old William Wedgeworth, “and the INFINITY Science Center really helps inform me on all of the things I might need to know. I enjoy going to the Astro Camp and it helps me collaborate with everybody else who likes doing the things I want to do in my field. Birds of a feather.”

With INFINITY’s reopening, staff members are hopeful of a return to normal.

“In the immediate future, we are starting Astro Camp sessions in two weeks, and we’ll continue to have large events, like this, usually at least once a month as well as special members-only benefits as well,” said Anne Peek, a resident of Mississippi and partner of the INFINITY Science Center. “We just want to keep doing what we do, and that’s to do science for folks and have fun.”

At present, the INFINITY Science Center is open Thursdays through Sundays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information on the center, visit www.visitinfinity.com.

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