'Spaceship Earth' Sculpture Collapses (Associated Press)

Created by : Francis Goodwin View profile

Associated Press

Jan. 5, 2007 -- ATLANTA -- A million-dollar stone sculpture, intended to remind future generations of the Earth’s fragility, made its point a bit early -– it collapsed just three months after its unveiling.

The 175-ton “Spaceship Earth” lay in ruins at Kennesaw State University after mysteriously falling to pieces in late December.

The engraved phrase “our fragile craft” was still visible amid the debris.

{mosimage} “Kind of ironic,” said Mary-Elizabeth Watson, a university employee. “I had no idea it was made up of so many pieces.”

University officials say they suspect water damage or glue failure, but agents with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation are also looking into the possibility of vandalism, said Frances Weyand, a spokeswoman for Kennesaw State.

GBI spokesman John Bankhead said that the agency had not been asked to look into the situation.