From Baton Rouge to Mars

How many kids have gazed up into the sky and pondered what it’s
like to be an astronaut or space traveler? How many adults, for
that matter? There’s something about outer space, which we get a
glimpse of through the night sky, that excites the 10 year old
watching Star Wars in all of us.


But, deep space doesn't have any connection to Baton Rouge, does
it? Yes, Luke, it does!


Bob Fudickar is Executive Director of the LSU National Center for
Advanced Manufacturing, which, among other things, is building
the rocket NASA is sending astronauts to Mars. The center is
located at the NASA Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, and
is home to  partnership between NASA, the state of
Louisiana, LSU, UNO and the UNO Research and Technology
Foundation. It was originally formed in 1999, and is a state of
the art research and production center focused on applying
advanced manufacturing technologies to lightweight composite and
metallic materials in support of the NASA space program and
adjacent industries.


Bob Fudickar has spent his career in business and technology in
south Louisiana, including stints at Arthur Andersen, General
Electrics and NASA.


Serena Pandos is Executive Director of the Louisiana Art and
Science Museum, which among other things, gets a lot of kids
thinking about going to Mars, and elsewhere in space. That’s
because the LASM is home to the Irene Pennington Planetarium, a
60-foot domed theater that is one of the most sophisticated
multimedia presentation venues in the country.   


And the LASM is about more than just the planetarium. It is has a
permanent collection of American and European art, Louisiana
modern and contemporary art, photography and exhibitions on
ancient Egypt, the solar system and the universe.


It's not unusual for people living in small Louisiana towns to
think they're the center of the universe. Think for example of
Crowley that bills itself as "The Rice Capital of the World" or
Ville Platte's self-bestowed title as "The Smoked Meat Capital of
the World."  Here in Baton Rouge, with our contribution to
conquering space and going to Mars, we have a legitimate claim to
our place as the actual center of the universe!


Out to Lunch Baton Rouge is recorded over lunch at Mansurs on the
Boulevard. You can see photos from this show by Erik Otts at our
website. And, believe it or not, there are other companies in
Baton Rouge in the space industry.


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