Space Center Houston is a Smithsonian Affiliate museum with over 400 space artifacts, and plenty of sculpture, events, and immersive educational experiences.
Spot a space explorer, have breakfast with an astronaut or take part in a Stellar Science Show. The Mission Briefing Center features daily presentations on current NASA missions and the International Space Station gallery showcases actual flown artifacts.
SpaceX Falcon 9
The world’s first orbital-class reusable rocket, SpaceX Falcon 9 is the booster of choice for the company’s Dragon cargo spacecraft to the International Space Station. It’s also the launcher of the Starlink fleet of broadband satellites for rural customers.
Falcon Heavy is a heavy-lift rocket that aims to one-day transport cargo and astronauts to Mars. It’s also a key piece of SPaceX’s plans to create a permanent base on the Red Planet.
Visitors can see a twice-flown Falcon 9 rocket up close, as well as the world’s only piggyback Shuttle replica, which is mounted on a 747 that flew actual Shuttle missions. The Center is home to historic training mockups of various NASA habitats and vehicles, including a full-size replica of America’s first space station, Skylab, along with a tiny fragment of the real thing.
Space Center Houston is less than 20 miles from downtown Houston, Texas, and the easiest way to get there is by car. There is plenty of free parking on site. Alternatively, visitors can take public transport to the site, using Bus service 249.
Starship Gallery
Starship Gallery is where you can find the biggest collection of moon rocks on display and real flown spacecraft. It’s also home to a simulator and rover that give visitors an experience of life aboard a shuttle or planetary mission.
It also houses the actual capsule that Gordon Cooper manned during his 20th orbit in 1963. The exhibit explains how he had to use his watch and draw lines on the windows in order to align with the stars to help him navigate and return back to Earth safely.
The fourth building is also home to the Destiny Theater, where you can watch a short film that takes you through some key NASA milestones. It’s a nice way to get your bearings before heading off to explore the rest of the museum.
Space Shuttle Independence
The centerpiece of Space Center Houston, a Smithsonian affiliate and the official visitor center of NASA Johnson Space Center, is the iconic Independence Plaza. A full-scale shuttle replica mounted atop the actual Shuttle Carrier Aircraft NASA 905 — a Boeing 747 jetliner modified for the purpose of carrying and launching space shuttles – this landmark exhibit is the only one like it in the world.
The museum also houses a number of historic training mockups used by astronauts, including a full-size version of America’s first space station and a fragment of the real Skylab that survived its fiery 1979 reentry. A new Mission Mars exhibition offers a glimpse of life aboard the Orion research vehicle that will eventually take astronauts to explore the red planet.
You can get to the space center by flying into either George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) or William P Hobby Airport (HOU). Rental cars are available at both. A car-parking lot is available on the site and a parking fee is charged. Alternatively, you can take the public transport bus line 249 from downtown to El Dorado Pr and then walk a short distance to the museum.
Mission Mars
The Mission Mars exhibit teaches visitors about the work NASA is doing to prepare for human trips to Mars. It features interactive activities, a virtual reality wall, and a Mars meteorite that visitors can touch.
A gallery displays astronaut clothing and equipment that have been used on real-life space missions. Highlights include Pete Conrad’s Apollo 12 suit and Michael Collins’ Apollo 11 garment. There is also a crew wall with portraits of all astronauts who have ever flown in space.
Guests can take tram tours of the Johnson Space Center (JSC) campus and visit Historic Mission Control or Building 9, where they can tour training mockups of the International Space Station and the Orion spacecraft. They can also walk around Rocket Park, home to a full-size replica of the Saturn V rocket and a 747 Shuttle Carrier Airplane. Space Center Houston is the official visitor center for JSC and a Smithsonian affiliate museum. It shares the thrill and wonder of human exploration with millions of star-struck guests each year.
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Space Center Houston – A Smithsonian Affiliate is an inspiring tribute to space exploration. With exhibits like the towering Saturn V rocket, hands-on astronaut training, and space shuttle replica, it allows visitors to experience the wonders of space travel. This one-of-a-kind museum fuels the imagination.
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