Museum in Sparks launches exhibit tracing Nevada's ties to US space exploration program

The Republic (Columbus, Indiana): Museum in Sparks launches exhibit tracing Nevada's ties to US space exploration program

SPARKS, Nev. — A northern Nevada museum is launching a new exhibit about rockets and the role area residents have played in space exploration.

The Sparks in Space exhibit at the Sparks Heritage Museum was developed with the help of the Challenger Learning Center of Northern Nevada and a group of Sparks High School astronomy students.

The Sparks Tribune reports that it includes information on rocket testing, animal "pioneers" sent into orbit and the next generation in space exploration.

Dick Dreiling is a museum volunteer and board member who dug up information for the From Railroads to Rockets portion of the exhibit.

He says he found little-known facts about Rocketdyne testing thousands of Apollo and Gemini rocket engines on property the company owned in what is now Spanish Springs.