January 30, 2008

Stennis Officials Thank Lawmakers for Support

Lawmakers got a look at the role Mississippi plays in the country’s space program at the Capitol Wednesday. Officials from the Stennis Space Center and astronaut Mike Foale wanted to thank elected officials for their support and update them on projects still in the works.

Every rocket that has propelled a NASA astronaut into space was first tested at the Stennis Space Center in Hancock County. Replicas of new rockets and plans for the new test site currently under construction showed just how important Mississippi is to NASA.

“I’ve been in space six times — five times on the space shuttle,” said Foale. “And of those five times on the space shuttle, there are always three engines that were pushing me up to 17,000 miles per hour, tested in Mississippi — and those engines all worked perfectly. I’m living proof of that.”

Officials say Stennis will continue to provide good jobs for Mississippians for years to come.

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