Stennisphere Facts

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

StenniSphere facts

Students view Science on a Sphere, an interactive exhibit at StenniSphere visitor center. NASA

StenniSphere, the visitor center at NASA’s Exhibits John C. Stennis Space Center, features adventures in space exploration through • Science on a Sphere – StenniSphere’s 14,000 square feet of informative displays newest exhibit is one of its most- and exhibits from NASA and other agencies. colorful and offers an interactive, fun way to learn about Earth, other Visitors to StenniSphere board shuttles for planets and so much more a 25-minute narrated tour, beginning at the • Moon Rock – collected by the Launch Pad station at the Hancock County Apollo 15 crew that explored the Welcome Center at Interstate 10 Exit 2 in lunar surface in August 1971, the south Mississippi. At the Launch Pad is a StenniSphere fragment is estimated to 30-foot-tall lunar lander used as a trainer be more than 3 billion years old by Apollo astronauts. Its base features the • Apollo 4 Command Module – the autograph and bootprints of Fred Haise, an unmanned module launched Nov. 9, Apollo 13 astronaut and Mississippi native. 1967, to test the thermal protection From the Launch Pad, tours proceed to the site of America’s largest rocket engine test system during re-entry complex for an up-close view of the massive • Test Control Center – a mock-up of test stands and perhaps the shake, rattle and a Stennis Space Center test control roar of a rocket engine as it is being tested. center allows StenniSphere visitors to “test” a space shuttle main engine and Once at StenniSphere, visitors fi nd numerous “launch” a rocket exhibits, such as one that highlights the • Space Shuttle Cockpit – visitors help career of the center’s namesake, the late the computerized shuttle crew land Mississippi Sen. John C. Stennis. the space shuttle • International Space Station – a full-scale mockup Programs shows the habitation and laboratory module of the orbiting space station At the museum, space-themed videos play throughout • Swamp to Space – presents the history of the the day. Keep up with the latest scientifi c discoveries with center and information on the local environment “Science Bulletins,” broadcast by the American Museum • Evolution of Space Flight – a pictorial history of Natural History in New York City. Experiments on how highlights America’s space program the environment of space affects the human body are • Needlepoint Mission Patches – features hand- conducted live at the “Experimentation Station.” stitched replicas of NASA mission patches • The Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Astro Camp Command – offers a weather center, a representation of the ocean fl oor and information Inspire a future astronaut, engineer or scientist at Stennis on Earth’s oceans Space Center’s Astro Camp. Weeklong day camps are held • Caring for the Gulf each summer for children Together – shows ages 7-9, 10-12 and 13- how Stennis 15. One-day Astro Camp agencies support Saturday missions are preservation of the held during the school year Gulf of Mexico for ages 7-15. For dates, • NASA’s Technol- costs and other details, call ogy: an Investment 1-800-237-1821 (Option in America’s 4) or visit http://www1.ssc. nasa.gov/public/visitors/. Future – reviews how space explor- ation has led to Additional Features technological advances for The RocKeTeria, a space- everyday life themed 1960s-style • Touching Tomorrow restaurant, offers a full … Today – menu of local favorites education exhibit for visitors to enjoy. The highlights the Space Odyssey Gift Shop importance of offers the “right stuff” A pair of visitors conduct a simulated rocket engine test at sharing tomorrow’s souvenirs or gifts. one of StenniSphere’s interactive exhibits. vision with today’s young people and Time and Location educators. StenniSphere conducts tours from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, except major holidays, Outdoor Exhibits with the last tour leaving the Launch Pad at 2 p.m. Group tours may be booked to visit Tuesday through Saturday. • Space shuttle main engine (To make reservations, call 1-800-237-1821.) Free tours • Learjet Model 28 airplane equipped with remote of Stennis Space Center begin at the Launch Pad tour sensors that gather detailed images of Earth stop, located at the Hancock County Welcome Center • Full-scale Nomad buoy, like those used to measure at Interstate 10 Exit 2, just 45 miles east of New Orleans weather and ocean conditions and 45 minutes from Gulfport. (Visitors 18 and older must • Scale model of the Saturn V rocket that took present a valid identifi cation with photograph, such as a America’s astronauts to the moon driver’s license or passport.) • F-1 engine that powered the fi rst stage of the Saturn V rocket • Solid Rocket Booster that helps power the space For more information or to make reservations for shuttle into orbit groups, call StenniSphere at (228) 688-2370 or (800) • A full-size Jupiter-C rocket, the kind that put the 237-1821 (Option 1) in Mississippi and Louisiana, or fi rst U.S. satellite into orbit visit: http://www1.ssc.nasa.gov/public/visitors/.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration John C. Stennis Space Center Stennis Space Center, MS 39529-6000 (228) 688-3333 www.nasa.gov

FS-2010-03-00090-SSC NASA facts