How to Enjoy a Highlight in Houston, Texas- NASA Johnson Space Center

When on vacation, knowing where to go and what to do is crucial

While visiting family in Houston, Texas, we thought it would be the perfect time to do a bucket list challenge. Early morning, after the gym and breakfast, we headed for the space center. It was about an hour’s drive away. My husband did his research and discovered that there was much to see at the space center and an entire day would be needed.

We left early that morning and arrived with a parking lot filled with cars. We could barely get parking. Lots of tourist in town for the holiday and kids were on vacation from school, when we entered we saw wall to wall people, all ages and ethnicity.

The tour of the shuttle took the longest where you had to take a little train to the location of where the shuttle was housed. The lines were very long. We agreed that this event would take the longest so we immediately purchased our tickets and entered the line which was miles long. It was at least an hour or more wait just to take the little train to the site of the shuttle.

The train ride was about ten minutes. Everyone exited the trains and we all stood in amazement for what awaited each of us. Adults and children took out their cameras and snapped away.

What we actually experience, a camera can’t convey but can begin to give one an idea of what to expect upon visiting. Highly recommend when visiting to checkout the shuttle first. The shuttle was humongous, bigger than a football field. I couldn’t believe my eyes how large it was and that it was comprised of three powerful engines where each had it’s own very large fuel tank. Once each engine reached space it was disintegrate into space, literally disappear due to the heat in space.

Up and close views conveyed the design and how all was constructed very intricately and beneficial making the shuttle successful upon launch. When you watch a launch on television, cannot compare with what you see in person at the NASA Space Center. It’s like night and day.

Also, it’s almost unbelievable that a shuttle that size and weight could descend into space as in the past. I am yet mesmerized by the sheer fact that someones constructed all this and made it happen in space. With a one day visit, I can’t begin to convey all the history we saw at the NASA Center.

The Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center (JSC) is NASA’s center for human spaceflight where human spaceflight training, research, and flight control are conducted. It was built and leased to NASA by Joseph L. Smith & Associates, Inc. The Space Center was renamed in honor of the late US president and Texas native, Lyndon B. Johnson, by the Senate on February 19, 1973.

The Space Center is comprised of much to do for all ages! One could spend the entire day with all the history and activities!!

At the NASA Center was the history of the Space Saturn Rocket, Space Shuttle, Space Station and the Moon Landers from each origin to their final destination after usage!

Space Center Houston is a leading science and space learning center in Houston and a Smithsonian Affiliate museum. The Johnson Space Center is the home of Mission Control and astronaut training.

The center opened in 1992 and more than 1 million visitors visit yearly. The entire facility is a 250,000-square-foot educational complex. The center holds over 400 space artifacts, permanent and traveling exhibits, attractions, live shows and theaters dedicated to preserving the history of America’s human spaceflight program. It has a number of significant artifact galleries.

The center has extensive STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education programs for all ages and draws more than 200,000 students and teachers each year.

After our visit to the space shuttle, we returned by train to the main Visitor Center building where there were films, videos, simulators, and all sorts of technology for the very young and the young at heart.

While it does take a complete day to truly appreciate everything, we were able to enjoy a good 85% of the happenings. The lines for the simulators were usually very long.

Also, we toured the plane that carried the shuttle from Florida to Houston. This opportunity provided an up and close glimpse of a replica of a space station and how the astronauts lived aboard along with the toilets, beds, kitchen area, and etc.

With the pictures and videos below, we hope you can get enough of a glimpse to encourage you to check it out if you are ever in the Houston area. There is nothing like up close and personal.

In conclusion, our bucket list item was worth every penny we spent to tour the NASA Space Center. We are now more informed for what happens or happened in the making and lunching of the space shuttles and its viable components. The video below is provided to give you and up and close view until you can visit. Enjoy!!