Community pleased, concerned about proposed college science center

BARSTOW — Support and concerns about building a dedicated science and technology center at Barstow Community College were expressed by members of the community Tuesday night.

BCC held an information session to discuss its proposed $33 million project to bring a historic antenna and top-notch science program to the community.

Peter Robles Jr., the health, safety, and facilities manager for the NASA management office in Pasadena, was on hand to answer questions and concerns the public had.

He said NASA would provide $3 million for the relocation of a satellite dish from NASA's Goldstone Deep Space Complex at Fort Irwin to the new science building of Barstow.

“I thought it was an excellent session,” Robles Jr. said. “It was great to be in a community that was so passionate and listening to what the people would interpret as negative feedback.”

Robles Jr. said he felt the main issue to the public is how a major satellite will affect the property value of the houses in the surrounding area, because local residents don’t want to look out their window and see a huge satellite dish outside their windows in their residential area.

“I thought that was a very interesting point,” Robles said. “That is something that is still in the works, but won't prevent us from going on with the project. We've looked at reasons why we would have to shut down this project. It's been four years, and we still haven't found one yet.”

Twenty-five percent of the college’s proposed science and technology building will be devoted to a museum for the satellite dish that includes other artifacts from the space program. The proposed museum will include a gift shop, an observatory, and the NASA Teacher Resource Center, that will include personnel from NASA and resources students can use for the program. The remainder of the building of would be used for classrooms and laboratories. BCC President Cliff Brock said the college is unsure when the center would open.
One of the concerns the community raised last night was the cost of the project. A majority of the $33 million price tag will be covered by $20 million coming from state bonds. The center plans to raise $10 million and NASA will kick in $3 million.

Goldstone will serve as the centerpiece for the new Center of Space and Technology. The antenna broadcasted Neil Armstrong's walk on the moon in 1969 from NASA's Goldstone Complex to the college.

BCC President Cliff Brock said the partnership could potentially help turn Barstow into a science community.

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