Space Center Houston
The visitor centre for Johnson Space Center, with the restored Apollo mission control room and a Saturn V under cover.
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Johnson Space Center has run American crewed spaceflight operations since the 1960s, and this is its public front. The tram tour reaches the historic Apollo mission control room, restored between 2017 and 2019 to how it looked on 20 July 1969 - the consoles rebuilt, the correct period ashtrays and coffee cups replaced, the projection screens working - which is a more affecting room than most people expect. Rocket Park holds a Saturn V, one of three surviving flight-ready examples, now under a protective building after decades outdoors. A Shuttle Carrier Aircraft with a shuttle replica mounted on top can be walked through. Active operations mean parts of the site close without notice.
What you actually see
- The restored Apollo mission control - as it stood in July 1969.
- A Saturn V - one of three flight-ready survivors, now under cover.
- A shuttle carrier aircraft - walk-through, with a replica orbiter on top.
- A working NASA centre - which restricts access at times.
When to go
October to April; summer is hot and humid. A full day.
Honest expectations
Tram tours are limited and queue heavily - go early. Mission control tours cost extra and sell out. Active operations close areas without warning. It is a long drive from central Houston.
Nearby
Kemah Boardwalk is east; Galveston is south.
What to pack for Space Center Houston
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
