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My dad used to design the software for aircraft for Northrop Grumman and said the Houston Space Center reminded him so much of Grumman's campus, which was so sprawling you needed a car to drive from building to building. Space Center's solution is a tram that takes you from area to area, efficiently ferrying groups from station to station. It's great for kids and adults alike, with plenty of history, photo opps, and even opportunities to see people actually at work. There were so many students there presenting science projects while we visited, and it was fun to witness the ecosystem of employees to tourists to local students on school trips all spending time to learn about the wonders of our galaxy. I especially enjoyed the gift center, where the NASA was printed on everything from bucket hats to overalls to many, many variations of t-shirts. The drive was about 45 mins outside Houston and we spent about 4 hours there total. It was definitely a day well spent, and set up well for multiple repeat visits.
We had a lot of fun and learned a ton at The Space Center! It's about a 30-45 minute drive from downtown HTX, but it's well worth it. There are multiple exhibits, shows (live and recorded), and areas with kid-friendly activities. Lots of photo opps and a gift store, ofc. General admission is ~$40pp, and tram tours/other experiences can be added for additional cost. There's paid parking (I believe ~$18 flat). 10/10 would recommend!
We heard this was one of the must-visit attractions while visiting Houston, so we decided to check it out! I bought the tickets from Groupon, which was slightly cheaper, and expected to spend 3-4 hours there. We arrived around 11 a.m. and were able to walk through the entrance quickly. We had a lot of fun with the Mission: Sketch exhibit, where you can color your own rocket and send it flying into space on a projector screen. They also offer off-site tram tours. When we got there, all the tours were fully booked, except for the Saturn V rocket. Seeing it in person was surreal. It's enormous! Highly recommended!
Is Interstellar your favorite movie? Do you want to see a huge freaking rocket in real life? There's probably few places in the US, if not the world, just for you and Space Center Houston is one of them we arrived around 11 in the morning to the museum and were able to walk through the main building exhibits pretty quickly. Despite being adults, we had a lot of fun with the Mission: Sketch exhibit where you color your own rocket and watch it fly to space on a projector screen All the off-site tram tours were booked for the day except for the Saturn V rocket, and it's definitely worth boarding the tram for it. It's surreal how big it is, some kids next to us screamed "wow that's the biggest thing I've ever seen in my life!". He's likely not wrong. expect to spend 3-4+ hours here, and another tip is try to book tickets through Groupon, it's cheaper than the actual website
Overall space center Houston is a good experience for people looking to learn about the history and have the tours. I think it would be a better idea if there were docents to guide and bring to life the static displays; perhaps explaining in different languages or audio headsets. I did see a very knowledgeable volunteer who explained a lot and the whole where he was describing the Saturn V operation and had a model where things would undock. It was very helpful to see him use the model to explain what happens. I wish he could have provided a full tour to be more engaging. The Tran service was efficient and the tram operator was entertaining too. The snack area is huge, but not too inviting since the wire fruit display had a rotting orange with fruit flies.
On my Texas road trip last month, I decided to simplify the itinerary a bit, spending less time on the road and a bit more around Houston. With the Artemis mission just finished three days before, my interest in space exploration and travel was reignited. I was a child during the Apollo missions and a teen during those first shuttle missions. Friendly staff greeted me and advised how I might spend my time there. I walked the main exhibit for a while, watched some videos, etc., and then joined two of their tours: first the training facility and then the rocket park. What an amazing walk through history--the highs, the lows, the space race, and everything in between. And getting closeup views of the shuttle and the specially designed jet that carried the shuttle between landing and takeoff spots? Amazing!
Nasa- or as it is called by its other name Johnson Space Center. It has been a must visit for anyone coming to Texas, from other cities or abroad and so have been here quite a few times already, the first time by myself, but every other time afterwards with visitors enthusiastic about one of the biggest and most well known space centers in the world - 'Houston, we have a problem' - who has not heard that ! Keeping up to their reputation, they have a gallery which times the beginning and growth of the space center and the various missions they have undertaken and continue to work on, Mars is their current focus which I gather from the numerous presentations and talks- if u happen to attend any they explain everything as to the initiation, progress, hopes etc., its very futuristic. My favorite is the short shows they have with the real people behind the scenes. Am not sure how regular these are, but if you see any on the listed for the day, be sure to attend without fail. Of course there is the moon rock. And the Apollo mission rocket with Neil Armstrong and the rest of his team displayed as prominent pictures. And a little interesting, not so connected to space mission, are the long horns. The ones at the space center are beautiful animals with really long horns. They are generally relaxing and lazing around but I still found them a treat to watch. Two things that belong to Texas - Long Horns and Nasa- co-existing- that's nice.
This museum/tour could be so much better. For 39.00 General Admission, it's not worth it. Maybe I am saying this because I have been to the Space Center in Huntsville and it's basically the same thing if not better. There are so many add-ons like GA w/ Mission Control Tour (I should have paid the extra for this, but the pricing is on a sliding scale) and breakfast w/an astronaut. The whole pricing page online is a little confusing. Anyway, we got here and walked in as they open and it's a big open room of exhibits, 2 large gift shops, and a huge cafeteria. Then there were lines with tours that you had to get additional tickets for, some free and some you had to pay more for. We got tickets for the site tour which was free. Thank God because no one would pay for this. Basically, you ride on a Disney like train and see parking lots, rundown buildings and some deer. That's it. Like there's no budget for pressure washing or siding? "This is the building where cool stuff happens, but you can just see their parking area" The Saturn Rocket area was cool to see with the Apollo timelines as was the new info about the Artemis new moon landings upcoming. Other than that, I wasn't impressed. I regret not seeing Mission Control, maybe that would have made a major difference.
We had a great time at the NASA Space Center in Houston. This was our first time at a space center so I couldn't compare it to another one. I bought tickets online while I was outside the building (try to look for a code online). Parking is $10 and you can pay via a QR code or you can pay inside at the front desk. The tram rides are included in the ticket price, but you do have to reserve and get tickets for the tour. The inside exhibits were kid-friendly and informative. It was similar to a museum for space exploration. We liked the Mission Sketch station where you can color the Artemis rocket and "launch" it on the big screen. We also liked the Starship Gallery and the Shuttle Independence. The other exhibits in the building were good also. We took two tram tours - one to the Saturn V rocket and the other (reservation tickets needed) was to the astronaut training facility where astronauts train before going on a mission. The astronaut training facility tour was cut short due to thunderstorms, but the only part we missed was seeing that Saturn V rocket, which we already saw on the Rocket Park tour. We saw a couple of shows including one narrated by Tom Hanks, The Moonwalkers. They were interesting, but the Tom Hanks video was a little long (50 mins). They also took professional photos outside before you enter, which you can purchase at a kiosk inside. We got the $40 package which included 3 6x8 prints and all the digital photos. Note - you only have 30 days to downloaded your high res photos, which you do via a QR code on your receipt. There's also a food court incase you are hungry. Great place to check out, especially if you have kids.
Took a day drive so we could purchase our Artemis ll mission @ Johnson Space Center Houston. Upon arrival, you must scan a VR code, to pay to park. While my husband is retired, it would have been nice to speak to a person on a parking discount!! A small line to purchase tickets to enter the Space Center. We did get a military discount which was very helpful and met some wonderful people in lonesome drive from California, others from all around the globe. Lots going on inside the museum, with demonstrations, falcon 9 walk through. The souvenir store was fun. Prices acceptable and yet again accepted a military discount, as well. We bought our commemorative Artemis ll shirts, freeze dried snacks and even lots of fun kiddo items. There are kiddo activities throughout the museum, a very cool food court, possible tram ride tickets available to purchase for a deeper look around the premises! We saw a Spacex rocket as well. Overall, the walkthrough and activities were fun and made for a wonderful day! We can't wait to go back for future launch events!! Side note: Houston is not that much fun driving through, lol. We picked good times the traffic was not as bad as it could have been!
I recently visited Space Center Houston, and I honestly can't recommend it enough if you have even a passing interest in history or science. I spent the whole day there, and while the main museum exhibits are great, the behind-the-scenes tours at the Johnson Space Center are what really blew me away. I started with the tram tour to the Astronaut Training Facility, where I got to walk along an elevated glass catwalk looking down into a massive hangar-sized room. I loved that this isn't just a museum, it's a working lab where I saw full-scale mockups of the International Space Station and the new Orion spacecraft. It felt very "real" seeing engineers down on the floor working on robotics and technicians moving equipment around; I even caught a glimpse of people in flight suits, which made me feel like I was getting a sneak peek at the future of Mars missions. The absolute highlight for me, though, was the Historic Mission Control Tour in Building 30. They have meticulously restored the Apollo Mission Control Center to look exactly as it did during the 1969 moon landing, and the level of detail is actually insane. I noticed things like vintage rotary phones, period-appropriate binders, and even coffee mugs and ashtrays placed at specific consoles based on where the controllers sat back in the day. Sitting in the original "VIP viewing room" while they ran a light and sound show that synced the original Apollo 11 audio with the flickering green-tinted monitors gave me actual goosebumps. It felt like I had stepped into a time capsule. I also made sure to stop by Rocket Park to see the Saturn V rocket, which is so massive it's hard to wrap your head around it. My biggest piece of advice is to book the Mission Control tour way in advance because it sells out fast, but it is worth every penny to stand in the room where history was made.
Amazing time! The museum is well organized and has various and interesting things to do and see! I took a space flight simulator and it was okay but too short for $10. I would watch something else that is a little longer and more interesting.
Space center houston. I've been here 2 times. The last time was over 10 years ago. Last time I went they had a simulator where one person flies and the other can shoot. It was awesome. It's gone now. U can also go to Mission Control 10 years ago. Now if u want to go to Mission Control, you will need to make a reservation. A lot has changed since then. The parking situation is: u go in and park your vehicle and then u will scan the QR to pay and enter your license plate #. Once u leave, u scan the bar code again and drive out and that when it will charge u. Parking was $10. So many cool things to see inside. I loved the Virtual reality where u can go to Saturn. It was a great experience for $10. Highly recommended!!! They also wipe the goggle between use so that's great. If u have a purse, or water bottle like me, they have an area for u to put your purse and drinks. And yes, water is allowed inside. There was also another ride next to that but we didn't do it. It's also for an additional cost on top of your general admission fees. Everything was very clean and well organized. We took the tram to rocket park and saw some long horns along the way. The rocket was very impressive and nicely restored. After the rocket park, we were taken on the tram to the areas where astronauts lived and slept. It was pretty cool. 2 ways to get up there. They do have an elevator or if u want to, u can walk up 4 flights of stairs to get up there. They do recommend that u start at the very very top and walk all the way down. There were bathrooms and tables along the tram ride. The do sell food and drinks inside but we didn't buy any. And of course there's the gift shop to buy souvenirs.
1 month ago
OVER THE MOON! I was pleasantly surprised with the amount of wonder and scientific magic I experienced at Space Center Houston. It's like walking into a space nerd's dreamscape. One all-day ticket was a little over $30. I went midweek, it wasn't overly crowded despite being a Summer day. You can get your picture taken as you enter, the photos are available for purchase upon entering. I saved the samples on my phone, there's watermarks, but I'll make My experience of witnessing the collection of NASA astronaut suits, prototypes, and rockets at SCH will forever stay with me. I took a free tram tour to the astronaut training facility on the NASA campus and saw a few projects in development. Afterwards, I went to Rocket Park and observed the Saturn rocket. It's MASSIVE and incredibly impressive. I made my way back to SCH's main building and picked up a cold brew at Grounds Control a cute coffee shop inside a NASA food hall. Next, I saw a film called Moonwalkers inside SCH's large screening room. The room was filled with wall-to-wall light effects and imagery! Lastly, I bought loads of NASA merch like shirts, hats, magnets, and pins. The front lobby has incredible medallions, I bought one of each. read more
4 months ago
Overall, the museum was pretty neat and informational. I was expecting more exhibits and artifacts, but the museum is largely video media based. There were a handful of theatres for guests to sit in and experience various historical moments pertaining to space exploration. We only watched "Moon Walkers" narrated by Tom Hanks. Independence Plaza: A quick walk from the Space Center Museum. It is about 3-4 stories high with exhibits inside of it (air conditioned). A lot of the tram tours are a first come first served basis. We didn't go to all the tram stops (complimentary with your ticket), but we did stop at George W.S. Abbey Rocket Park Tour. It was cool to see! Parking: The parking is charged separately on top of the tickets. read more
Do you know any moon landing deniers? I do, unfortunately. And the Space Center is full of all kinds of information that you can use to disprove their inane arguments. Other things you should know about the Space Center: -It's a huge campus, and the museum itself is only a small portion. -My wife went 15 years ago, and it's gotten a LOT better apparently. So if you haven't been in a decade or more, give it another shot. -They don't have much pertaining to the recent Artemis mission. We went as the astronauts were heading around the moon, but we didn't see any current info. -It's great for kids, especially over the age of six or so. -You should book some tours in advance. By the time we got up there, most things were sold out except Rocket Park. -Rocket Park is still cool. The sheer size of the Saturn is incredible. Take the little trolley and say hi to the longhorns. -The Food Lab (the food court) is hit or miss. The salad bar was surprisingly great, and the pizza is abysmal. DO NOT GET THE PIZZA. -You should go in with an open mind, ready to learn. That goes for everything, not just the Space Center. -You know where astronauts hang out? At the space bar. (This joke works better with a drawing of an astronaut passed out on a keyboard.) read more
4 months ago
My dad used to design the software for aircraft for Northrop Grumman and said the Houston Space Center reminded him so much of Grumman's campus, which was so sprawling you needed a car to drive from building to building. Space Center's solution is a tram that takes you from area to area, efficiently ferrying groups from station to station. It's great for kids and adults alike, with plenty of history, photo opps, and even opportunities to see people actually at work. There were so many students there presenting science projects while we visited, and it was fun to witness the ecosystem of employees to tourists to local students on school trips all spending time to learn about the wonders of our galaxy. I especially enjoyed the gift center, where the NASA was printed on everything from bucket hats to overalls to many, many variations of t-shirts. The drive was about 45 mins outside Houston and we spent about 4 hours there total. It was definitely a day well spent, and set up well for multiple repeat visits. read more
We had a lot of fun and learned a ton at The Space Center! It's about a 30-45 minute drive from downtown HTX, but it's well worth it. There are multiple exhibits, shows (live and recorded), and areas with kid-friendly activities. Lots of photo opps and a gift store, ofc. General admission is ~$40pp, and tram tours/other experiences can be added for additional cost. There's paid parking (I believe ~$18 flat). 10/10 would recommend! read more
We heard this was one of the must-visit attractions while visiting Houston, so we decided to check it out! I bought the tickets from Groupon, which was slightly cheaper, and expected to spend 3-4 hours there. We arrived around 11 a.m. and were able to walk through the entrance quickly. We had a lot of fun with the Mission: Sketch exhibit, where you can color your own rocket and send it flying into space on a projector screen. They also offer off-site tram tours. When we got there, all the tours were fully booked, except for the Saturn V rocket. Seeing it in person was surreal. It's enormous! Highly recommended! read more
Is Interstellar your favorite movie? Do you want to see a huge freaking rocket in real life? There's probably few places in the US, if not the world, just for you and Space Center Houston is one of them we arrived around 11 in the morning to the museum and were able to walk through the main building exhibits pretty quickly. Despite being adults, we had a lot of fun with the Mission: Sketch exhibit where you color your own rocket and watch it fly to space on a projector screen All the off-site tram tours were booked for the day except for the Saturn V rocket, and it's definitely worth boarding the tram for it. It's surreal how big it is, some kids next to us screamed "wow that's the biggest thing I've ever seen in my life!". He's likely not wrong. expect to spend 3-4+ hours here, and another tip is try to book tickets through Groupon, it's cheaper than the actual website read more
Overall space center Houston is a good experience for people looking to learn about the history and have the tours. I think it would be a better idea if there were docents to guide and bring to life the static displays; perhaps explaining in different languages or audio headsets. I did see a very knowledgeable volunteer who explained a lot and the whole where he was describing the Saturn V operation and had a model where things would undock. It was very helpful to see him use the model to explain what happens. I wish he could have provided a full tour to be more engaging. The Tran service was efficient and the tram operator was entertaining too. The snack area is huge, but not too inviting since the wire fruit display had a rotting orange with fruit flies. read more
On my Texas road trip last month, I decided to simplify the itinerary a bit, spending less time on the road and a bit more around Houston. With the Artemis mission just finished three days before, my interest in space exploration and travel was reignited. I was a child during the Apollo missions and a teen during those first shuttle missions. Friendly staff greeted me and advised how I might spend my time there. I walked the main exhibit for a while, watched some videos, etc., and then joined two of their tours: first the training facility and then the rocket park. What an amazing walk through history--the highs, the lows, the space race, and everything in between. And getting closeup views of the shuttle and the specially designed jet that carried the shuttle between landing and takeoff spots? Amazing! read more
Nasa- or as it is called by its other name Johnson Space Center. It has been a must visit for anyone coming to Texas, from other cities or abroad and so have been here quite a few times already, the first time by myself, but every other time afterwards with visitors enthusiastic about one of the biggest and most well known space centers in the world - 'Houston, we have a problem' - who has not heard that ! Keeping up to their reputation, they have a gallery which times the beginning and growth of the space center and the various missions they have undertaken and continue to work on, Mars is their current focus which I gather from the numerous presentations and talks- if u happen to attend any they explain everything as to the initiation, progress, hopes etc., its very futuristic. My favorite is the short shows they have with the real people behind the scenes. Am not sure how regular these are, but if you see any on the listed for the day, be sure to attend without fail. Of course there is the moon rock. And the Apollo mission rocket with Neil Armstrong and the rest of his team displayed as prominent pictures. And a little interesting, not so connected to space mission, are the long horns. The ones at the space center are beautiful animals with really long horns. They are generally relaxing and lazing around but I still found them a treat to watch. Two things that belong to Texas - Long Horns and Nasa- co-existing- that's nice. read more
This museum/tour could be so much better. For 39.00 General Admission, it's not worth it. Maybe I am saying this because I have been to the Space Center in Huntsville and it's basically the same thing if not better. There are so many add-ons like GA w/ Mission Control Tour (I should have paid the extra for this, but the pricing is on a sliding scale) and breakfast w/an astronaut. The whole pricing page online is a little confusing. Anyway, we got here and walked in as they open and it's a big open room of exhibits, 2 large gift shops, and a huge cafeteria. Then there were lines with tours that you had to get additional tickets for, some free and some you had to pay more for. We got tickets for the site tour which was free. Thank God because no one would pay for this. Basically, you ride on a Disney like train and see parking lots, rundown buildings and some deer. That's it. Like there's no budget for pressure washing or siding? "This is the building where cool stuff happens, but you can just see their parking area" The Saturn Rocket area was cool to see with the Apollo timelines as was the new info about the Artemis new moon landings upcoming. Other than that, I wasn't impressed. I regret not seeing Mission Control, maybe that would have made a major difference. read more
We had a great time at the NASA Space Center in Houston. This was our first time at a space center so I couldn't compare it to another one. I bought tickets online while I was outside the building (try to look for a code online). Parking is $10 and you can pay via a QR code or you can pay inside at the front desk. The tram rides are included in the ticket price, but you do have to reserve and get tickets for the tour. The inside exhibits were kid-friendly and informative. It was similar to a museum for space exploration. We liked the Mission Sketch station where you can color the Artemis rocket and "launch" it on the big screen. We also liked the Starship Gallery and the Shuttle Independence. The other exhibits in the building were good also. We took two tram tours - one to the Saturn V rocket and the other (reservation tickets needed) was to the astronaut training facility where astronauts train before going on a mission. The astronaut training facility tour was cut short due to thunderstorms, but the only part we missed was seeing that Saturn V rocket, which we already saw on the Rocket Park tour. We saw a couple of shows including one narrated by Tom Hanks, The Moonwalkers. They were interesting, but the Tom Hanks video was a little long (50 mins). They also took professional photos outside before you enter, which you can purchase at a kiosk inside. We got the $40 package which included 3 6x8 prints and all the digital photos. Note - you only have 30 days to downloaded your high res photos, which you do via a QR code on your receipt. There's also a food court incase you are hungry. Great place to check out, especially if you have kids. read more
6 months ago
Took a day drive so we could purchase our Artemis ll mission @ Johnson Space Center Houston. Upon arrival, you must scan a VR code, to pay to park. While my husband is retired, it would have been nice to speak to a person on a parking discount!! A small line to purchase tickets to enter the Space Center. We did get a military discount which was very helpful and met some wonderful people in lonesome drive from California, others from all around the globe. Lots going on inside the museum, with demonstrations, falcon 9 walk through. The souvenir store was fun. Prices acceptable and yet again accepted a military discount, as well. We bought our commemorative Artemis ll shirts, freeze dried snacks and even lots of fun kiddo items. There are kiddo activities throughout the museum, a very cool food court, possible tram ride tickets available to purchase for a deeper look around the premises! We saw a Spacex rocket as well. Overall, the walkthrough and activities were fun and made for a wonderful day! We can't wait to go back for future launch events!! Side note: Houston is not that much fun driving through, lol. We picked good times the traffic was not as bad as it could have been! read more
I recently visited Space Center Houston, and I honestly can't recommend it enough if you have even a passing interest in history or science. I spent the whole day there, and while the main museum exhibits are great, the behind-the-scenes tours at the Johnson Space Center are what really blew me away. I started with the tram tour to the Astronaut Training Facility, where I got to walk along an elevated glass catwalk looking down into a massive hangar-sized room. I loved that this isn't just a museum, it's a working lab where I saw full-scale mockups of the International Space Station and the new Orion spacecraft. It felt very "real" seeing engineers down on the floor working on robotics and technicians moving equipment around; I even caught a glimpse of people in flight suits, which made me feel like I was getting a sneak peek at the future of Mars missions. The absolute highlight for me, though, was the Historic Mission Control Tour in Building 30. They have meticulously restored the Apollo Mission Control Center to look exactly as it did during the 1969 moon landing, and the level of detail is actually insane. I noticed things like vintage rotary phones, period-appropriate binders, and even coffee mugs and ashtrays placed at specific consoles based on where the controllers sat back in the day. Sitting in the original "VIP viewing room" while they ran a light and sound show that synced the original Apollo 11 audio with the flickering green-tinted monitors gave me actual goosebumps. It felt like I had stepped into a time capsule. I also made sure to stop by Rocket Park to see the Saturn V rocket, which is so massive it's hard to wrap your head around it. My biggest piece of advice is to book the Mission Control tour way in advance because it sells out fast, but it is worth every penny to stand in the room where history was made. read more
6 months ago
Amazing time! The museum is well organized and has various and interesting things to do and see! I took a space flight simulator and it was okay but too short for $10. I would watch something else that is a little longer and more interesting. read more
Space center houston. I've been here 2 times. The last time was over 10 years ago. Last time I went they had a simulator where one person flies and the other can shoot. It was awesome. It's gone now. U can also go to Mission Control 10 years ago. Now if u want to go to Mission Control, you will need to make a reservation. A lot has changed since then. The parking situation is: u go in and park your vehicle and then u will scan the QR to pay and enter your license plate #. Once u leave, u scan the bar code again and drive out and that when it will charge u. Parking was $10. So many cool things to see inside. I loved the Virtual reality where u can go to Saturn. It was a great experience for $10. Highly recommended!!! They also wipe the goggle between use so that's great. If u have a purse, or water bottle like me, they have an area for u to put your purse and drinks. And yes, water is allowed inside. There was also another ride next to that but we didn't do it. It's also for an additional cost on top of your general admission fees. Everything was very clean and well organized. We took the tram to rocket park and saw some long horns along the way. The rocket was very impressive and nicely restored. After the rocket park, we were taken on the tram to the areas where astronauts lived and slept. It was pretty cool. 2 ways to get up there. They do have an elevator or if u want to, u can walk up 4 flights of stairs to get up there. They do recommend that u start at the very very top and walk all the way down. There were bathrooms and tables along the tram ride. The do sell food and drinks inside but we didn't buy any. And of course there's the gift shop to buy souvenirs. read more
The reason we made the trip from San Francisco to Houston! We would have been fine if this is all we did and headed back. So inspiring, wondrous and fun. I absolutely loved the visit and left hopeful for humanity! read more
3 months ago
Exhibits were fine and there was lots of good information on those exhibits but it was underwhelming and not worth the money. Tram tour was mediocre. I wish there were more exhibits about recent space exploration. Also, the old models and such were gutted out so you couldn't see how it really looked. read more
I had put off visiting NASA until I had someone visiting from out of town. I have been to Soace Center for other events like NASA Lights, but I'd never done the full interactive museum experience I will say that there is something here for everyone, but the majority of the experience would appeal more to children than adults... which is wild because some of the jargon and concepts are very mature There are presentations/skits that are informative. There are interactive computers with game-like experiences. There are stations for creating your own paper rocket, or places where you can write down and post what you would bring to space. You can even board a parked NASA plane/shuttle A couple of the interactive games/experiences were broken, but the rest were really neat. Most of the museum is in what looks like a big convention center. There are cool displays, moon landers, astronaut, and all sorts of other NASA decor. I do wish that there was a bit more to the museum. While it's a big space, it still felt sort of small in terms of museum attractions If you're hungry you can stop by the food court which is clean and offers a variety of foods and drinks to choose from. You can also peruse two gift shops for the perfect NASA souvenir Some tips: Be aware, the parking spaces are pay to park. I think this is ridiculous, but they charge your account on the way out. I also think this experience is somewhat over priced for what it is. Try to find a promo code and buy your tickets online Cheers!! read more
This place is a good one time visit. ++ Proud to be an American. But clearly nothing much has happened recently ++ Well laid out artifacts -- disorganized. They sold so many general tickets but the team rides were overbooked -- over priced souvenirs. And all made in China- the irony read more
I was a bit confused about the space center. I had heard amazing things, but maybe it's more geared towards kids than adults. There were several small exhibits in the main exhibition hall, but we had heard the tram tours are really what you should see. We did the Saturn V tram tour, which was included, but was almost cancelled due to weather. The tour itself was quite cool, and definitely the highlight of the exhibit. However, everything else was a bit of a let down, at least as an adult. Everywhere you turned felt like either a kitschy model, or an "add-on" where you needed to line up to pay for more to see a part of the exhibit. Overall it felt a bit too much like a cash grab with the number of paid add-ons. The Saturn V rocket tram tour was cool, but given that it's not guaranteed that you can see it (or use any of the trams), I'm not sure it's worth it as a whole for the $40 ticket price. read more
11 months ago
This place is a joke and overpriced. About 70% the stuff here I could have done at the Science Center and Boeing Museum for free and half the price in St Louis. I wouldnt recommend spending $33 just for admission and $10 for parking . read more
5 months ago
2 years ago
Compared to other space centers that I visited in the US, this center is small. They do not have a planetarium either. The rocket center that housed the Saturn 5 rocket is worth visiting. The tour of the NASA grounds is just a team ride showing big brown buildings from the outside. The long ranch cows on the grounds were the highlight of the ride. We even spotted a small alligator in a pond. The show about the lunar landing and future missions narrated by Tom Hanks was decent. There was a live presentation that was not too bad. Pretty long lines for everything. We wanted to go inside the Boeing flight, but did not want to stand in the line outside in the hot sun. Btw, they do not allow backpacks and water bottles inside. They need to be left outside in a luggage room for a fee of $7. read more
I wanted to share my experience from my visit over the holidays, which included an extra-cost ticket for the Reliant Light Show. The light show itself was absolutely worth it! However, I want to warn others about a misleading ticketing issue so you don't end up wasting money like I did. NASA offered a special Christmas light show, but what wasn't made clear is that it had a timed entrance and already included access to NASA exhibits without the usual long lines. I purchased a bundled ticket for both NASA admission and the light show, assuming they were separate experiences--but I essentially paid twice for 5 people the same access! Imagine the cost of that!! If you're planning to visit for the Christmas light show, DO NOT buy the regular NASA admission--just get the light show ticket. You'll still get to experience NASA without the wait. I reached out to management to request a refund for the unnecessary extra tickets, but they refused to accommodate me. Given how unclear the ticketing was, I expected better customer service. Hopefully, this review helps others avoid the same mistake! read more
11 months ago
With Trump expressing interest in moving the shuttle (2025) but experts saying it could require a full breakdown, it's good to visit and see the shuttle while you can, just in case. Nothing better than seeing the peak of human engineering on display. The Space Center is a MUST for anyone interested in the history of space travel. It's not the biggest of "museums", but there's not many like it. From the first trips into space to the moon landing to the repeat visit, the center teaches about the challenges astronauts and engineers faced. The original suits are displayed and you can even touch a piece of moon rock (there's hand sanitizer nearby). The star attraction is the Space Shuttle and Boeing 747 fitted to carry it from coast to coast. You can go INSIDE both, with more information pieces inside to teach how they managed to transport it. No spoilers here, but the solution is insane. read more
1 year ago
2 years ago
Engineering. Think about the engineering necessary to bring these huge rockets to outer space WITHOUT all the technology we know now a days? When you head to the Saturn V shed, you realize, dang, that's a big friggin rocket. Look at the boosters and the intricacies of the piping and plumbing needed to achieve their mission. Breathtaking. The age and rust make it that much more commendable. Definitely a place to bring the family and inspire future engineers read more
A perpetual tourist attraction and educational hub for the youngins, the Space Center will forever be etched in the fabric of Houston's identity. Through its storied history with NASA, the Space Center opened just over 30 years ago and has been one of the most popular museums ever since. Having visited multiple times over the last couple of years, it has become a home away from home especially when I have guests in town. Some key things to note: :: Out of towners might call this Houston, but it's really Nassau Bay, which is just outside of Clear Lake. (#1) :: There is a McDonald's (#2) located just outside of the venue across the street along NASA Pkway with an astronaut out front. Stop by and take a picture before or after visiting the Space Center. :: Because it is both an indoor and outdoor venue, inclement weather makes this place extremely difficult to enjoy. Avoid summer if at all possible since AC is too hard when doors are propped open. :: Want to avoid the crowds? Go on a weekday. Enjoy the claustrophobia of people? Go on Saturday at 11am. :: This is extremely family friendly. Unless of course, no one understands the concept of space and time. Then it's incredibly boring friendly. :: What a lot of people may not realize is that this is more of a campus than it is a museum. As the home of Mission Control and astronaut training, there are actual employees that commute and work here daily. :: Tours are free. Book them. One can do so on the spot near the information desk out front. :: The cafeteria / food hall is unsurprisingly mediocre for food standards. However, it is also incredibly affordable by tourist / museum standards. Don't worry if there are oodles of people hogging the seats. Something will open up quick. Also, when in doubt, go for the quesadillas. :: I've seen many families sneak in food and simply eat them in the cafeteria. This is kind of brilliant on many levels. The most egregious site I've seen is someone who brought an actual pot that was full of biriyani. I was somewhat horrified, but also incredibly jealous. :: The souvenir store is fun for NASA enthusiasts, since there is a lot of exclusive merch that caters to brand devotees. If not, it's really just a souvenir shop with a variety of overpriced merch, knick-knacks, and gifts. :: Trolleys are nice way to see the campus, leave the museum, and peep rockets, and even longhorn steers (#3). The campus tours are a bit on the boring side, but one does get to see how enormous the land really is. :: Best photo-ops are going to be in the Saturn V Rocket facility. Size isn't everything (#4), but the enormity of the engines / launchers is really something. Most photos aren't going to capture the whole thing, unless one shoots in semi-wide angle. :: There's lots of dining near by but for those looking for lunch nearby, I highly recommend Himalayan Taj (#5) :: This whole process will take several hours of the day. There's multiple areas that are worth seeing, several stops along the Johnson Space Center when on tour, and a number of exhibitions that will require some fine perusing. Adults will be winded, kids will be tired, and everyone will achieve their step count goal. __________ (#1) No New Yorkers, there is no such thing as public transit that takes you here. It's time to learn how to drive. (#2) Micky 's: https://www.yelp.com/biz/mcdonalds-houston-22 (#3) Part of "The Longhorn Project" (#4) It's not the size of the rocket that counts. It's the trajectory of the launch. (#5) https://www.yelp.com/biz/himalayan-taj-houston read more
Located on NASA Johnson Space Center. Several actual and replica spacecraft. The Space Shuttle Independence is mounted on a 747 and you can visit both the Shuttle and the aircraft. The Space Shuttle and the indoors Saturn V rocket were the best parts. One tour includes a visit to the working Command Center. There is a Falcon 9 rocket. Liked the longhorn cattle near the tram route. We liked the reservation system, buildings, and tram tours! There were some friction points to fix: 1 Pay for parking was inconvenient. The Metropolis system would not accept my AmEx credit card. Tried to use another card, the website got stuck. My daughter had to finish the process. 2 Our tram on the historic Mission Control Tour had a squeaky and distorted sound; please fix the speakers. 3 Many tram tour guests were milling around or asking for directions. We could not see the tour signs for the historic tour because people were standing in front of the signs! If they raise the tour signs about six feet into the air, then we can see the signs and know which line to join read more
Finally made it to the Space Center, and let me tell you... my inner child was doing cartwheels while my adult self was trying not to cry from excitement (and maybe a little FOMO because we came late ). I've always dreamed of visiting here--and it was everything I hoped for and more. I didn't get to do it all, but now I've got the perfect reason to come back to Houston. This place is a cosmic dream, whether you're 7 or 70. NASA, save me a seat--I'm not done with you yet! read more
I haven't been to space center in over 10years but when my family came into town, this was something they really wanted to do. So despite my lack of enthusiasm, we took a trip to the space center. Just a pro tip: make sure you have at least 6hours to spare because it's a big place! First the pro: -all the workers seemed helpful. They had an unexpected large crowd over thanksgiving and they handled it with grace. -it was pretty cool to see all the equipment that the astronauts use. Definitely makes you appreciate how much detail goes into these missions. -love the little free shuttles to other locations of the space equipments. If break ups the crowd and allows one to explore and learn more about other equipments. -Great place for kids including a space to just run around and release some energy and fun! -The cafeteria food was decent! I can only speak on the fries but they were fresh and crispy! The price was appropriate for the portion too! The snack stand though was overpriced! Now for the cons -So much of the extra activities you had to pay for separately including the virtual reality (which most of my family loved) -The film and Q and A is a great concept but it was not engaging and exciting. It was monotone and had older interviews. (This put me to sleep. So maybe it can be a nap time for those that need it) With the space of the auditorium, I can see a huge potential of maybe even putting on an overhead screen and transporting people to space(maybe that's coming up in the future, who knows) -Amazing opportunities like being able to talk to an astronaut is like $200, which is way over most people's budget unfortunately. So would I come back again? Not unless I have to :) read more
5 months ago
space center houston was good, the second time i've been to this nasa space center location. there were a few good shows - i would recommend the tom hanks film/documentary since its basically a massive imax and screenx screen combined, with visuals on the left, right, floor and the screen as well. the fifteen-minute shows in my opinion are not worth it since they're either just short news-style films or live slideshows that are carried by the performances of the presenters, who I found kinda cringe (no offense, but they're doing too much iykyk). the physical rockets and stuff to read is pretty interesting, so would highly recommend doing those and the tours. read more
Since I visited Kennedy Space Center in Florida, I also wanted to visit Johnson Space Center in Houston. This is smaller and there are less things to see compared to KSC. I was able to see everything within a few hours. It's still interesting and it's nice to be able to go inside an actual space shuttle but if you are trying to decide between KSC and JSC then I'd say Kennedy in Florida is better. Entrance fee here is cheaper though, so there is that. read more
So many things to see and do. It's an interactive, and educational and just plain awe inspiring. We came in on a late Sunday morning and beat the crowds. Our lines for the tours were not long (although the Mission Control was 'sold out'). The price is worth the adventure. We will probably come back. read more
For someone who was never really interested in space and did not have a good understanding of all the work astronauts and NASA do and just went to the space center for a friend, I will say I really enjoyed my time there and have learned so much and gained a major appreciation for all those working in and with NASA/space programs/etc. I purchased the 50$ ticket for general admission and Mission Control. The general admission ticket starts at 10am when they first open and last all day, from my understanding you are still able to enter at a different time slot. We chose the latest option for Mission Control (3 something) to ensure we have plenty of time to see everything else. We got there a bit before 10 just to find parking and ensure being able to secure passes for the tram tours, which was not an issue at all there is plenty of parking available. But it was nice to get there a bit early take a few pictures outside and wait in line to get our bags checked. I highly recommend downloading the app because along with the different exhibits and tram tours. There's plenty of shows/presentation happening at various times. The app allows you to see it all and better plan your day at the space center. Once we entered, the first thing we did was go to guest services to secure our passes for the tram tour to the astronaut training facility. We chose to do an earlier time, to accommodate the presentations/shows we were interested in watching, so I highly recommend doing that prior to picking tram times. We ended up not getting passes to the tram tour for the rocket park however, during both the Mission Control and astronaut training facility tours, we passed the rocket park so you were able to see the area just did not get the chance to step off and take pictures. The tram tours were organized and run very efficiently. I attended both the astronaut training facility and Mission Control ones. I highly recommend trying to sit in the front row at Mission Control, if possible, to be able to get the best pictures. When going on the tram tours, you pass through a small tunnel and I greatly appreciated the staff announcing to please remain quiet prior to entering and stopping announcements during the tunneled portion for individuals with auditory sensitivities. Both the training center and Mission Control buildings had quite a bit of walking and stairs (Mission Control had 87 steps up and down, I believe if I remember correctly). However, announcements were made for other available options for those who may need accommodations. There is a large cafeteria with plenty of food options and seating. The food is a bit over priced but that is to be expected. All the food orders are placed at kiosk throughout the cafeteria so, there are no options for substitutions or alternatives to menu items. However, there were items for a variety of dietary preferences including vegan/vegetarian. I had the pizza and my friend had a burger/fries and we were both satisfied with our meals. Make sure you take a look at your receipt and save it because when we went they were running a promotion for a free coffee with a purchase if you show your receipt to the cafe at 3pm. And let me say, even if the coffee wasn't free I would have needed to buy one to keep up with the afternoon there. There were 2 gift shops located at this facility, I am not sure why. They both had the same items however, one was just much smaller and closed earlier. There were plenty of souvenir options and all seemed reasonably priced/comparable to other souvenir shops in the area/at the airport. At the end of the day, the gift shop did get pretty crowded and the line was long but I still felt as if I was able to look around and get what I wanted before they closed. The museum is divided up into multiple different exhibits and I highly recommend prioritizing the topics you are interested in and going there first to ensure being able to see everything. Although we spent all day there, we had to rush through the Orion and Mars exhibits. Most of the exhibits have interactive areas and staff members present to answer any questions and show you additional imaging/etc. My absolute favorite exhibit was definitely being able to go inside the plane and space shuttle. I highly recommend trying to attend one of the space memories talk with the astronauts and the presentation on a day in the life at the ISS. Also recommend bringing a jacket because although it can get warm during the tram tours, it was quite cold inside the auditoriums. For someone who was not interested in space, I spent all day there from opening to closing 10am-5pm and enjoyed every moment. On the app/website you can also find recommended itineraries based on how long you want to spend at the facility. read more
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More info about Space Center Houston
1601 E Nasa Pkwy
Houston, TX 77058
Clear Lake
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(281) 244-2100
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https://spacecenter.org
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Ask the Community - Space Center Houston
Are masks required? I am getting conflicting information.
We were there in early November and they were requiring masks for everyone while indoors or on a tram tour. This included fully vaccinated people as well.
Are there restaurants or places to eat here? Is it allowed to leave for lunch and come back for reentry? Are we allowed to bring food?
There is a food court of both take and go sandwiches and snacks and a hot bar as well. There is also a coffee shop. The food court has plenty of places to sit and relax after exploring to wait for your tram ride.
About how long does it take to see everything? Or most everything, at least? We only have one day to visit.
You can do it in one day but go early and make a detailed itinerary before you go (their website has event times, etc on it) Have fun!! 🚀
How much is it to upgrade tickets to a membership right now? Remember awhile back it cost almost nothing to upgrade
When we visited in August of 2020 it was discount of 10% for all upgrades to memberships. The first option that allows re-entry just to the space center for a Family of 4 was $135 instead of the normal 150. We chose the next level of membership…
What's the best time to during summer time . Want to take my brother but don't want it to be super packed?
When it opens until 10 am.
What's the best thing to do at the space center?
The tram ride for sure. Try to do that first and then go for the show. The wait for he ride can be long specially on the weekends but earlier in the day is better.
I lost my membership pass? Can they check at the front to validate or is there anyway I can print a copy of it of it online?
If you forgot or lost your membership card, please go to the Information Desk to get your temporary number/replacement card. It is also where they will refund you if you had to pay for parking.
We are taking our daughter for her first birthday on our way to Houston Any tips or things we must do or see from those with experience?…
Get the city pass! It includes everything there is to do in the city.
Would anyone recommend this place for someone who is claustrophobic? I know astronauts have to fit in some really small spaces. Would really like your help. Thank you.
There aren't many overtly tight spaces, it's like any other museum
Review Highlights - Space Center Houston
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