You simply can’t stay in Houston without paying a visit to the Johnson Space Centre. The building that acted as Ground Control for the 1969 Moon Landing is not just a national treasure, it is a global monument to the strength and determination of the human spirit.
The centre was erected in 1961, following President Kennedy’s ambitious claim that the USA would put a man on the moon within 10 years. NASA used it as a training base for astronauts and a research centre for their space programme. It is still used to train American astronauts and serves as Mission Control for some voyages to this day.
The Centre has entered the imagination of budding space explorers and science fiction fans everywhere thanks to the famous tagline from the movie Apollo 13: ‘Houston, we have a problem’.
Space Center Houston is jam-packed with memorabilia and artefacts from the famous space flights of the twentieth century. Feel close to the famous space explorers as you wander through the space suit gallery and check out the collection of real and replica rockets, space shuttles and capsules. To get a true idea of daily life in the Cosmos, head to the Living Space Module for a demonstration of the complicated practicalities of everyday activities like eating and taking a shower.
Take part in a space mission as you strap in to the flight simulator and have a ringside seat to the sights, sounds and smells of a rocket launch in the Blast Off IMAX Cinema. Don’t miss the newly restored Shuttlecraft Galileo from perhaps the most renowned extra-terrestrial explorers of them all – Star Trek’s famous Galileo Seven.
Two tours are available for a small additional fee. The Tram Tour lasts about 90 minutes and will drive you through the grounds of the space centre past astronauts in training and the historic Mission Control Centre.
For a much more in-depth experience, set aside 4-5 hours for the Level 9 tour which gives unparalleled access to the site to a limited group of 12 visitors per day. See the inner workings of NASA mission control and chat with the astronauts over lunch. Tickets aren’t cheap, but for space geeks, this is a once in a lifetime experience. It’s best to book in advance to avoid disappointment!
Just half an hour’s drive from downtown, with free parking, visiting the Space Centre is an absolute must.
