About
The NASA Space Center is the #1 attraction for International Visitors in Houston! Located about 40 minutes from Galveston by car it’s not very far away. This education foundation is a non-profit featuring interactive exhibits. There is an unlimited amount of things to learn about at this center. Additionally, there are tons of authentic space and astronaut items on display. The Space Center is educational and fun for adults and children alike! With a trip here, you may just inspire a future astronaut.
Tram Tours
Tram tours are available for free! However, you do need to a boarding pass. There are a couple different tours, one of them is a guided and educational tour which you need to reserve (this one is not free). These free tram tours will take you from the Space Center to a nearby area. In this area, you will be able to observe and photograph a few real rockets up close, including the famous Saturn V.
To obtain a boarding pass, you should either download the Space Center Houston App (free!). There is a button on the app titled "Join tram virtual line." From there, you can select your tour, the number of your people in your group, and then reserve your passes.
Otherwise, the second option to obtain your boarding pass is by visiting the Services Desk near the entrance. A crew member will be able to help you reserve your spot.
Breakfast with an Astronaut
For an encounter with a real Astronaut, you can purchase a Breakfast with an Astronaut ticket. This is the ultimate experience where you and your group will sit down with a real NASA astronaut and get an inside look at what being an astronaut is really like. The breakfast will be catered by Wolfgang Puck for an even more top shelf experience. At the end of the group breakfast, there will be the opportunity to ask questions during a Q&A session. The cost of tickets for this are $99.95/adult and $79.95/child. These prices do include general admission to the Space Center as well.
Indepence Plaza
At Independence Plaza, you can explore inside a shuttle replica Independence, mounted on top of the historic and original NASA 905 shuttle carrier aircraft. How many places in the world can you get this kind of interactive space experience? Also, this makes for a really fun activity for kids!
Houston CityPASS
If you plan to be in Houston for a couple days or want to make the most out of the trip, we recommend purchasing the Houston CityPASS. For $64/adult(12+) and $54/child(3-11) you will get admission to 5 popular attractions! The attractions include:
- Space Center Houston
- Downtown Aquarium
- Houston Museum of Natural Science
- Houston Zoo or Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
- Kemah Boardwalkor Children's Museum Houston
Pro tip: The NASA Space Center gets pretty busy, especially on the weekends. If you’d like to take a guided tour, you must book this ahead!
Local Tips
- For guided tours, book ahead. These fill up quickly, especially on the weekends.
- If you play to spend a full day or more in Houston, consider the Houston CityPASS for savings on various popular activities.
