HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — The U.S. Space & Rocket Center has had to permanently layoff just over 100 of their 280 full-time employees.
This comes as the Coronavirus has caused the Rocket Center to be closed for weeks now. Pat Ammons, with the Space & Rocket Center, says they are operationally self-supporting, so if they are not open then they are not earning income.
Ammons says every level of the center, in every department, is affected by the lay-offs, from directors and managers to front line employees.
They hope to reopen the museum next week (the week of May 24th), but are awaiting guidance from the Governor’s Office and the State Health Department on how to safely do so.
Their current plan is to reopen Space Camp on June 28th with reduced numbers to ensure social distancing. That is also contingent on state guidelines.
Ammons says the Space & Rocket Center is hopeful some of their requests for aid will come through, but for now some difficult personnel decisions had to be made to ensure the financial future of the center.
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