Hit the I-10 heading towards Pearlington, Miss., and you just may discover a hidden treasure. There, just past the highway median and beyond a thick forest of trees, lies a colossal rocket next to a beautiful glass faced building that holds many unexplored wonders of Earth and space. Behold INFINITY Science Center.
   It is a science museum with attitude that just celebrated its 10^th Anniversary on April 10, 2022. The museum was built upon a mission to inspire, amaze and engage. Those who visit the Center are there because they happened upon it when they crossed from Louisiana into Mississippi going east on the I-10 and the INFINITY Science Center is situated next to the Welcome Center for Mississippi. Others are space buffs, and this is a must-see destination, or a school trip adventure for enjoying the STEM game opportunities for students. Take I-10 going west and at Exit 2 there is a small sign inviting you to INFINITY Science Center.
   The fabulous rocket booster laying on its side just outside the Center is a total attention getter. And inside, the sights get even better. The Center boasts exhibits that showcase over 50 years of items that have amazed the American public since the space race began in the 1960s. A glimpse of the colossal Saturn V Booster Rocket from I-10 East at Exit 2 will draw you into the Mississippi Welcome Center and by delightful accident into INFINITY Science Center, which serves as the official visitor center for NASA Stennis Space Center.

   “To Space and Beyond” is accomplished with the work of Mississippi’s largest rocket engine testing facility, Stennis Space Center. Stennis tests the rocket engine that carry capsules manned by astronauts and carrying payloads into space for NASA (National Aeronautical Space Administration). A chance to see up close, relics of space exploration, the worn and torn space suit standing on display. The detailed description of how this space suit earned its’ patina, where it was used, and realizing that Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and several other astronauts actually wore this suit simply amazes. The space suit stands in the shadow of a Space Shuttle rocket engine booster and a moon rock from the Apollo 15 mission. The biggest shadow is cast by the colossal Saturn V Rocket Booster. Standing outside dwarfed by the Rocket Booster the question comes to mind, “How did the Saturn V Rocket Booster, 60 feet taller than the Statue of Liberty and the length of almost a football field and 1/2 get into space?” INFINITY Science Center is a standalone non-profit. And with a grant and donations, the colossal Rocket Booster was moved to its home nestled next to the massive windows of the INFINITY Science Center.
   Not only does Mississippi have shadows cast by the NASA connection but one of our own from Biloxi, Miss., Fred Wallace Haise, Jr., emerged from the shadows and left footsteps to be followed. Fred, former NASA astronaut, engineer, fighter pilot with the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Air Force is one of only 24 people to have flown to the moon, acting as Module Pilot on Apollo 13. To get a detailed story, read, “Never Panic Early: Apollo 13 Astronaut’s Journey.”  Retired Astronaut Fred W. Haise, Jr., returns occasionally to INFINITY Science Center as a much-revered guest. You just might see him there when you visit.  

   Two years ago, just as Covid-19 became a pandemic, the new executive director, Michelle Anderson, accepted the reins from Jill Senn, who had worked in several areas of the INFINITY since 2014. Michelle says even though she never thought of living on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, when the opportunity to take the lead at the Center presented itself, she said, “Some say it was bold or crazy to move to a nonprofit in a pandemic but the team is a dream team, and I could not pass up the opportunity to work with them. Resilience and diligence has been demanded to overcome quite a few challenges and we are still fighting some now. The team keeps working, smiling, and being innovative. The teamwork and family-oriented attributes among the team is just what convinced me to move my family to the Gulf Coast. These attributes have been put to the test time and time again with this pandemic. I am proud of my team and the changes that have been made looking into a bright future.”

   The INFINITY Science Center is exciting and huge. The brochure recommends planning a two- to three-hour visit. Melody Olguin, a recent visitor from Long Beach, Miss., recommends that too. She had a little over an hour and said, “I didn’t get a chance to play all the games or to even see everything!” Melody started on the second floor and was able to view a video about the Orion space capsule and she walked through a life-size mockup of the International Space Station Destiny Module. She saw one of the Robonauts replicas and posed in the space suit with the moon scape backdrop. Standing on the staircase leading up to the Space Gallery gave her a great view of two rockets.
   On the ground floor, guests can also make waves like Melody did by jumping in the “JUMP ZONE.” Press a button and watch three types of wave actions, stand at the Hurricane table, and so much more. The Linear Aerospike Engine on display is just one of the actual pieces of equipment used by NASA. And there are many more historic items on display throughout the INFINITY Science Center, which enjoys the close relationship with NASA, making the displays wonderful because they are the real thing. Missing the last 3D Theater show of the day prompted Melody to talk her grandpa into taking her back to the Center so she can enjoy Earth on the first floor with the 200 species of carnivorous plants, the indoor Critter Corner and the outdoor Biome Boardwalk. She wants to collect data and forecast severe weather at the Hurricane Prediction Lab. What about the deep ocean excursion traveling in the Deep Ocean Explorer? She met her grandpa back on the first floor. He was watching a film on carnivorous plants, another exhibit to see on their return trip to the INFINITY Science Center. To finish the trip on a high note, the duo bought a bag of frozen dots of ice cream out of a vending machine that used suction to deliver their selection. This gave the trip to INFINITY Science Center a cool finish.

   The museum is located along the Mississippi Gulf Coast off Interstate 10, Exit 2 South next to the Mississippi Welcome Center near the Mississippi/Louisiana State lines at 1 Discovery Circle, Pearlington, MS 39572. For more information, call 228-533-9025 or visit the Center’s Web site, www.visitinfinity.com. Museum hours are Thursday through Sunday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
   INFINITY is host to NASA. The Center has events such as Home School Mondays, Science Saturdays, Professional Development, Scout programs, and more. Students are offered a Science Exploration Class, and there are Teacher Resources for class activities. Contact Guest Services at www.visitinfinity.com for inquiries. Visitor tips reveal extensive offerings will take anywhere from two to three hours to enjoy fully. Top 10 things to do: Deep Ocean Explorer, Carnivorous Plants, 3-D Immersive Theater, Hurricane Prediction Laboratory, Space Gallery, Apollo 4 Capsule, Biome Boardwalk and Butterfly Gardens, Apollo 19 Saturn 5 First Stage.

On the cover: Long Beach resident Melody Olguin shows her enthusiasm as she points to a space rocket from the second floor of the INFINITY Science Center.

Susan Weller

Years of living along the Gulf Coast with a penchant for capturing photographs of smiling faces and beautiful places has brought Susan Weller to Seaside Social News. “This tenure will enhance my opportunities to capture and promote the exciting venues and activities generated by our lovely Gulf Coast and the people who live and celebrate life’s joys.”