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Rocket Center, West Virginia facts for kids

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Rocket Center
Rocket Center is located in West Virginia
Rocket Center
Rocket Center
Location in West Virginia
Rocket Center is located in the United States
Rocket Center
Rocket Center
Location in the United States
Country United States
State West Virginia
County Mineral
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
GNIS feature ID 1717905

Rocket Center, West Virginia is a special place in Mineral County, West Virginia. It's not a town where people live, but it's home to an important government facility. This facility is known as the Allegany Ballistics Laboratory. It's part of the Naval Sea Systems Command, which is a big part of the United States Navy. A company called Northrop Grumman helps run it.

Rocket Center is about 15 kilometers (or 9 miles) north of Keyser. It sits along the North Branch Potomac River. Even though it shares a ZIP Code with Keyser, it's its own unique area.

What Happens at Rocket Center?

The main reason Rocket Center exists is because of the Allegany Ballistics Laboratory. This lab is a place where important research and development happen. They work on things like rockets and other advanced defense technologies. It's a key site for helping keep the country safe.

The Allegany Ballistics Lab

The Allegany Ballistics Laboratory is a very important place for the United States Navy. It's where scientists and engineers work on new ideas. They develop and test parts for rockets and other advanced systems. This work helps make sure the Navy has the best equipment.

Honoring Robert C. Byrd

At the Rocket Center site, you'll also find two buildings named after a very important person. These are the Robert C. Byrd Hilltop Office Complex and the Robert C. Byrd Institute for Advanced Flexible Manufacturing.

Who Was Robert C. Byrd?

Robert C. Byrd was a United States Senator from West Virginia. He was a very important politician who served in Congress for a long time. In fact, he was one of the longest-serving members ever! He worked hard for the people of West Virginia and the country. Naming buildings after him is a way to remember his dedication.

The Robert C. Byrd Institute

The Robert C. Byrd Institute for Advanced Flexible Manufacturing is a special place. It helps businesses and people in West Virginia learn new skills. They focus on modern manufacturing techniques. This means they teach how to make things using new and smart ways. It helps create jobs and improve technology in the state.

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