Immerse yourself in the past, present and future of human spaceflight at Space Center Houston, located 30 minutes south of downtown Houston. If you're new to Space City or just visiting, Space Center Houston should be the first stop on your itinerary when you're looking for things to do in Houston! The museum is the Official Visitor Center of NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) and has inspired millions of visitors since its founding in 1992. Plus, Space Center Houston is the only way for the public to visit NASA Johnson Space Center, with tours to historic Mission Control, NASA's Astronaut Training Facility, and Rocket Park, which houses a massive, flight-certified Saturn V rocket. The museum's exhibits display hundreds of space history artifacts, including a twice-flown SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, a sample from the asteroid Bennu collected by NASA's OSIRIS-REx, and multiple high-fidelity NASA trainer mockups that you can walk through. Spend a few hours or a whole day exploring the museum and finding inspiration among the stars.
Space Center Houston Facts
Before Space Center Houston existed, the JSC auditorium displayed priceless artifacts and models that reflected a rich history of space exploration, but no one except those with access to the building could see them or was even aware of their existence. The Space Center itself is the culmination of years of work by the devoted members of the Manned Space Flight Education Foundation, a non-profit initially conceived by Hal Stall, director of Public Affairs at NASA Johnson Space Center. He and other passionate supporters craved a way to share NASA's fantastic story with the world.
Visiting Space Center Houston
Plan the logistics of your trip to Space Center Houston before you go so you can enjoy time with your crew. Find ticket prices, parking information, operating hours, and more.
Space Center Houston Hours
Be sure to check the official calendar on their website before planning your visit. The museum regularly hosts special events, such as astronaut talks, book signings, and more (often included in the cost of admission)!
Space Center Houston Tickets
You can purchase tickets for Space Center Houston on their website or on-site via their ticket booth. If you're looking for a discount, try Houston CityPASS® tickets. You'll save up to on Houston's most popular attractions, including Space Center Houston, the Houston Zoo, Houston Museum of Natural Science, and other tourist favorites.
Space Center Houston Parking
Space Center Houston provides visitor parking for $10 plus a service fee, paid via credit card.
Attractions & Experiences at Space Center Houston
There's plenty to keep you busy for hours at Space Center Houston. Learn all about the ongoing exhibits below:
- Visit Historic Mission Control — Add this tour to your admission ticket to step inside the renovated historic Christopher C. Kraft, Jr. Mission Control and relive the moment when Apollo 11 astronauts first landed on the Moon.
- Browse a gallery...of spaceships — Admire real spacecrafts in this fascinating exhibit including the Apollo 17 Command Module, Mercury 9 "Faith 7", Gemini V, and more. Walk through the orbital workshop of the Skylab 1-G Trainer and the living quarters for astronauts training for a space mission.
- Walk onboard the NASA 905 (Boeing 747) shuttle carrier — Explore the original NASA 905 shuttle carrier aircraft that carried out over 200 shuttle runs during its 42-year career, as well as a replica of the space shuttle Independence. Inside Independence, you'll get to see the flight deck and the astronauts' close living quarters and even get a chance to walk out on the payload bay. The interior of the NASA 905 features engaging interactive displays and hands-on exhibits that will teach you all about the riveting history of the shuttle program.
- Get a close-up view of a sample plucked from a moving asteroid — Delivered back to Earth in 2023 by NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission, see the sample from the 4.5-billion-year-old asteroid Bennu.
- Touch the Moon and a meteorite — Space Center Houston has the largest public display of Moon rocks in the world and visitors can even touch one. And don't forget to touch the meteorite on display in the lobby on your way through the museum.
- Chart the evolution of the spacesuit — Filled with real spacesuits and assorted astronaut apparel, this exhibit features Sally K. Ride's in-flight coveralls, Ed White's extravehicular activity training suit, Peggy Whitson's flight suit, and more. Dive into the genius required to build these wearable life-supporting machines and learn about each of the astronauts who wore them.
- Get up close to the fourth planet, Mars — Space travel has never seemed so accessible! Bask in the glow of a virtual Martian sunset and feel a real meteorite from the red planet in this stunning exhibit. You'll learn everything you wanted to know about Mars, including its weather patterns, what astronauts will wear when exploring its terrain, and what it looks like on the surface.
- See how astronauts train or take a Saturn V selfie (or both) — Tram tours are the most popular attraction at NASA Space Center Houston and fill up quickly, so be sure to allow plenty of time to hop on during your visit. You'll have the option of visiting Rocket Park, home of the 363-foot-tall Saturn V rocket; and the Astronaut Training Facility tour, which features the Space Vehicle Mockup Facility used for astronaut training at NASA Johnson Space Center.
- Explore life on the International Space Station (ISS) — Learn all about the ISS through interactive robotic exhibits and the live show Living in Space in this recently updated exhibit. Orbiting around the Earth at 17,000 miles per hour, this massive laboratory hosts astronauts who conduct valuable research to enhance our understanding of the cosmos.
- Enjoy films and presentations on cutting-edge space topics — Watch stunning footage of space, life on the ISS, and more in Space Center Theater with a 4K projector that streams an ultra-high-resolution display.
Want a truly once-in-a-lifetime Space City experience? Opt for a Space Center Houston VIP Tour, available on weekdays only. VIP Tours get you access to behind-the-scenes NASA facilities. Depending on which tour you choose, you can step on the floor of Historic Mission Control and visit present day Mission Control, climb into the "Ghost Shuttle" for a cockpit selfie, see the enormous Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory, and more. These tours visit locations that aren't on the NASA Tram Tour with an expert guide at your side.
How Long is a NASA Tram Tour?
The NASA tram tour takes about 90 minutes. It's the most popular attraction, so make sure to plan ahead so you'll have time to do the tour and check out the other must-see exhibits.
Space Center Houston Events
The fun at Space Center Houston doesn't end when regular operating hours end. The Space Center plays host to plenty of fun special events, including Family Overnights, Sensory Friendly events, and more. Space Center Houston is sure to provide hours of enjoyment, regardless of your level of interest in space.
Houston Lodging
To get the most out of your stay in Houston, we recommend finding lodging near Houston's top attractions. Use this map to find the right lodging for you:
Header Image Courtesy of Space Center Houston