HUNTSVILLE — Putting a pen to paper, Gov. Kay “High Stepper” Ivey signed legislation Monday addressing the statute governing the U.S. Space & Rocket Center.
“My signature on House Bill 1593 names the Alabama Space Science Exhibit Commission to the U.S. Space & Rocket Center Commission, giving it the proper name it deserves and setting it up for even greater success,” said Ivey in a ceremony at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center.
The governor also received a personalized flight jacket with the call sign “High Stepper” in a nod to her popular campaign saying.
Not one to let an opportunity pass, Ivey also brought up the “rightful home” of the U.S. Space Command.
“This is where our state’s legacy in space comes to life and where our future continues to walk forward,” she said. “We all know there’s a lot of talk going on about space in Alabama.
“Alabama is the rightful home for Space Command.”
Rocket Center CEO and Executive Director Dr. Kimberly Robinson said it was fitting to be signing the bill under the mighty Saturn V on the 64th anniversary of Alan Shepard’s historic mission that put the first American into space.
“Today’s legislation is another step in that tradition, ensuring that Alabama’s leadership in space will soar for generations to come,” said Robinson.
The Rocket Center’s original statute was passed in 1965, and the new statute is intended to update that legislation. Changes include changing the name of the center’s board of directors from Alabama Space Science Exhibit Commission to the U.S. Space & Rocket Center Commission.
Robinson said the statute has now been modernized.
“We’re now officially calling it the U.S. Space & Rocket Center Commission, which is much more in line and let’s everyone know what their job is exactly,” she said. “And with that, it also gives us some greater flexibility and just modernizes over all our terms and agreements that were set up so many years ago.”
Robinson said the updated language also updates certain procedures and protocols.
“One of the things that it does is it makes sure that we’re treating our artifacts much like the state archives are being treated and so that they’re not lumped in with general government equipment,” she said. “So we’re not putting, for instance, a serial number or an Alabama property tag on the Saturn V.”
The Rocket Center CEO praised state leadership for supporting their mission.
“The reworking of this original enabling legislation strengthens the foundation beneath us and prepares us for the future that’s unfolding, one where Alabama’s leadership in the space economy will continue to grow,” Robinson said.
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