For years, I and my husband, have been eagerly planning to visit the famous Space Center Houston aka the - 'Official Visitors Center of NASA’s Johnson Space Center'. And now that I and Aj are finally residing here in Texas, just less than a week ago, before summer ends, the whole gang finally took the plunge of taking our asses off to the Official Visitors Center of NASA’s Johnson Space Center.
Before anything else and before we get to the main travel blog scenario let me ask you a question...
Have you ever dreamed of being an astronaut when you were a kid?
Well, as for me, honestly speaking...
I am not that space geek kinda person. WHY?
First of all, since the beginning, I am not fascinated with what the outer space may have to offer with me; Second, space topics, outer space education, and other space-related careers are not that readily accessible in the Philippines particularly in Mindanao. I am not rendering some negative thoughts about the Philippines here but that's the truth. In our place, it is so hard to imagine some outer space-related imaginations because maybe there are no resources available. Third, I can't imagine how hard the training will go through plus how dangerous it will be not going back safely here on earth.
BUT Now. I am thanking the famous Space Center Houston for making me officially one of the 'SPACE GEEK MEMBER'!
The reasons why I have become so dazzled with space topics will be blogerized below. So sit back and enjoy this rocket blog ride of mine.
Getting There
Space Center Houston is a 60 miles away from our place in a no EZ tag toll gate, so estimated drive hour is about one hour and 21 minutes, for a regular day with light traffic. So before leaving from our departure point, we decided to use the GPS map on our phone. Took a straight drive in the 290 Northwest Fwy and had our exit at 768B towards the merging line to I-45 into Galveston then took our next exit at 24 towards NASA, 1601 NASA Pkwy, Houston, TX 77058.
We arrived at our destination at exactly 12:10 in the afternoon, good thing we ate our lunch before we got out of the house.
And at the ticket booth, the line was so long already and the sun was so up to give us the extreme heat for a long line up. Good thing my sis-in-law decided to access our transaction for our tickets in the kiosk machine located at the right side before the entrance and then we got our tickets in less than three minutes without suffering from intense heat in the long ticket booth line.
Space Center Houston
NASA's Johnson Space Center
Astronaut Gallery
We started our NASA tour at the Astronaut Gallery. We saw one of the world's famous and in a complete set of space suits used by different famous astronauts. And along with the different space suit collections around us, there were also pieces of information and photos in the designated photo gallery that tells about the legendary astronauts together with their missions and dates.
International Space Station
After the Astronaut Gallery we went straight to the International Space Station. There are lots of amazing stuff to look at and experience outer space in a semi-actual setup in International Space Station.
The Living In Space Show was also one of the tours that were included in our ticket itinerary, didn't got the chance to attend the whole session but the matters that I have learned and will never forget is how the astronauts live in space, how they actually eat, exercise and of course how they manage their daily routines in an outer space version.
Astronauts celebrated special holidays at space
Space-Grown Lettuce
In the show also, one thing that caught my attention is the speaker's point of motion, she was thanking the parents for coming and bringing their kids along with them, she was significantly referring to the fact that bringing the kids to one of the amazing educational center museums on earth will be one of the remarkable reason to make something spark out of their little minds. The spark we all needed to remind us that everything is possible, like how other astronauts reached the moon and other areas in the outer space and with that little promising hope, who knows, our honorable and brave astronauts will discover Life on Mars, or maybe, who knows, maybe it will be our little children sitting in our lap.
Like this remarkable Robonaut who will serve as our window to the future.
Robonaut 2 (R2) is a robotic astronaut who can do simple tasks and work with tools an astronaut can use
The tour also did give me the final answer whether the astronauts really drink their own pee. And the answer is...
TOTALLY YES!
Shocking right? BUT BUT BUT! After only and not until their urine is being recycledly processed thoroughly until it becomes - drinkable.
Kids Space Place
After a couple of minutes of walking, adding infos in our brain, keeping eye on our toddlers and carrying them whenever they get tired - Kids Space Place is the place to relax and have a short break from serious science deals. Because Kids Space Place is comprised of fun hands-on activities for kids and also the perfect place for the children to vent out their 100% energy that will simultaneously give a timeout break for the parents too.
Aj playing with other kids
AJ curiously scanning through a touch screen device about outer space history
Star Ship Gallery
In the Star Ship Gallery, you can find a full-size SkyLab Training Module and the Apollo 17 Command Module.
Starship Gallery is one of my favorite area too because this is where they featured the Touch the Moon section, wherein they have presented to everyone one small moon rock and it is accessible for an actual touch. Such a big impact for us as an ordinary individual who didn't expect to be able to touch and feel the moon in our bare hands! And I can truly say that this is one of the highlights of the museum for kids and kids at heart too.
Apollo Fuel Cell
My Top Favorite Starship Gallery Attractions in JPEG
Apollo-Soyuz Docking Module Trainer
Wherein Apollo Captain named Tom Stafford and Russian Captain named Alexey Leonov shook their hands through the docking port
Apollo 17 Command Module
The last Apollo mission to the moon together with astronauts Eugene Cernan, Ronald Evans and Harrison Schmitt
Mercury 9 "FAITH 7"
Mercury 9 'faith' was piloted by Gordon Cooper and is being named for the number 7 on its title to honor the teamwork of the first seven astronauts who orbited planet earth for 34 hours 19 minutes and 49 seconds
This is why it is so hard to get a proper family photoshoot when you have a toddler
Skylab 1-G Trainer
The Skylab Training module can be found in the Starship Gallery, it is an actual workshop module wherein visitors can walk through it and witness the habitual activities of astronauts in every compartment that is specifically designed to train astronauts to adopt the way of living and working in space for long periods of time.
This is how an astronaut take a bath in outer space
This is how astronaut eats in space and do other normal routine stuff
Astronaut’s Freeze Dried Food
Astronaut's space sleep compartment
Skylab Boots
Lunar Roving Vehicle Trainer
Unlike we humans here on earth who can truly walk and run fast if ever we wanted to, astronaut's life in outer space is barely the opposite one when it comes to wearing of ponderous outer space suits and that will make an astronaut move hardly. But thanks to the brilliant minds who invented Lunar Roving Vehicle.
Astronauts Dave Scott, Jim Irwin, John Young, Charlie Duke, Gene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt were the astronauts who practiced and prepared their mission well with the use of Lunar Roving Vehicle Trainer before they enter the moon's surface.
Our cute babies in front of the Lunar Roving Vehicle Trainer
Finally! One modest family photo with the Lunar Roving Vehicle Trainer
Independence Plaza
The Independence Plaza is one well-known international landmark that overture a huge fun experience for all types of visitors because all guests can enter and explore the shuttle replica Independence that is being seated on the top of the celebrated and genuine form of NASA 905 shuttle aircraft.
This area of exhibit experience offers some problem-solving concepts that may enhance one individual's mental capability in the field of science, mathematics and another high-end technology engineering.
NASA Tram Tour and Rocket Park
After all the activities inside, exactly 1:50pm, we then rushed into the NASA Tram Tour and Rocket Park entry booth. The NASA Tram Tour presently consists of two tours: the Blue Tour in the Historic Mission Control and that ends at the Rocket Park tour; the Red Tour in the Building 9 Astronaut Training Facility and also that ends at theRocket Park tour.
When we arrived at the tram tour booth the red tour was already full of people, we wanted to go to both of the tram tours but we were running out of time because the tram tour is only until 4:00 pm and each tour is consist of almost 2 hours course. At first, we were all bothered on where to go, the Red tour or the Blue tour and we asked one high school student something about the tram tour and she told us that the Red Tour is way better. We need to decide and choose only one tour to go, so we decided to go on the Red Tram Tour and Rocket Park.
weeeeeeeeeehh survived the head aching line!
Look how many heads been struggling the heat of the sun just to fall in line in the tram tour
It was a heck of a hot, long and tiring line towards the Red Tram Tour. Our toddler almost gave up the red flag of tantrumism, good thing we brought along with us their snacks and some cold water to relieved their crankiness. And after our long wait we then eventually able to hop over to our tram ride towards Building 9.
The Girls Squad @ the Tram Tour
The Boys Squad @ the Tram Tour
Inside the Astronaut Training Facility, we were all a bit disappointed because we were all expecting to see some NASA engineers and astronauts working their way on the training facility and all we saw were just their big machines. And one more thing, as for me, the tour guide didn't do his job or maybe he just needs some microphone because we can't hear his voice clearly.
Rocket Park
AJ's epic fail tricky photoshoot LOL
In the Rocket Park, all visitors can have all the unlimited time to explore and check out the huge Saturn V rocket, one of the three surviving rocket which is more than 36 stories tall and was built to launch the famous American astronauts to the moon.
Papa Bryan and AJ with the mighty and massively beautiful - **Saturn V rocket** at *NASA Johnson Space Center*. Truly the tallest, heaviest and ever powerful rocket ever flown in the age of humankind in sending astronauts to the *moon*.
It was truly and massively beautiful if only I can stare at it until sundown; knowing that I am in front of one of the best National Treasure the humankind can tell.
Because she like rockets so much!
After we finished exploring the historical rockets we then headed back to the main museum to get the kid's stroller and have some short cool refreshing break because we took the tour at a hot afternoon time. We then took our final exit at exactly 3:57 pm, our toddlers were tired and hungry, so we decided to go to Kemah Boardwalk to have an early dinner and savior some fresh beach air before heading back to a long way drive towards home .
Sweet Sparkly Spacious Thoughts
Taking AJ to NASA's Johnson Space Center is one of our best decision ever made because this is the type of a wonderfully made place for children to learn, explore and enhance all the possibilities in life. Even me on my 26 years of existence here on earth, I cannot deny the fact that I was also amazed and inspired with the 250,000 square feet center that is consist of 400 space artifacts, memorabilia, informative discussions, big deal opportunities and heart pumping stories. I can't say that the tour was perfect but it was still OK and some of the issues and resolving tips will be tackled below.
Things You Need To Know Before You Go
1.) Not all activities and exhibits are for all ages, there is a specific exhibit that is intended to a certain age. So before you go, I suggest that you may plan your tour ahead of time, if you can, so that you can spend your tour worthwhile and hassle-free because there is so much stuff to do in NASA's Johnson Space Center.
2.) I recommend you to pick what you really want to do and choose them first because it will be hard for you to wait in long lines for every attraction when the day passes by to a busier time of the day.
3.) As what you have read and as what I have mentioned above, about how hot and long the lines are in Tram Tour, I suggest to all to Do the Tram Tours First so that you won't experience the long lines and hot weather, because the waiting area in Tram Tour is not air-conditioned.
4.) If you plan your tour so well and if ever you can take both two tours, well, you don't need to get off the tram ride after the first tour, you can directly tell the staff that you are good to go for the other tram tour. In our case, we didn't think of having the tram tour first, that is why we only experienced the red tram tour.
5.) Please Do Not Skip the Starship Gallery Museum. This is the part that is perfect for all ages because it houses lots of marvelous stuff to explore like the Apollo 17 Command Module, Skylab Training module and one of the main highlights for me was the touch the moon.
Couple goal shot @ the Mercury 9 Faith 7
6.) Don't get upset if you didn't and you can't watch all the live shows and other screening shows. Especially in our part who have two toddlers, it is so hard to keep the kids stay still the entire show without crying. We just took some short glimpse in one show and I think it was enough for that day.
7.) As what I have said - there are places to take a break from all the walking and standing and that place is called the Kids Space Place. They have some bleachers where weary parents can have some rest.
8.) Stroller is your friend here, especially when you have a playful and sometimes stubborn toddler along with you and it serves also as the hanger and storage part for your bags and other kid stuff. Don't be shock if you need to park them near the back door exit before going to the tram tour, you can have the stroller back after the tour.
Like this bossy toddler of ours
9.) There are food courts inside, however, the available foods are too pricey for me. So you better bring some snacks and drinks for you and for your little ones.
It was too hot so we decided to take a short break and feel the yummy cool dipN'dots ice cream
10.) If you have kids with you, Let the kids enjoy the place, this is their special day to imagine being in outer space and become an astronaut in their wonderful imagination. Let them explore the hands-on exhibits for them to learn something new. If in any case, you didn't get the chance to finish all the exhibits - 'It's OKAY!', there are lots of next time. And as for us, we will surely be visiting Space Center Houston again together with our kiddos. It will be so exciting how they will react again to outer space stuff when they get a little bit older.
11.) To avoid long exhausting lines in the ticket booth and have some great deals in buying tickets I suggest to you guys to purchase your tickets online before going to Space Center Houston. Ticket Prices will be featured below.
12.) For a more elaborate guide about the Space Center Houston you can visit the Space Center Houston Visitor Page .
Updated Ticket Prices
As of July 9,2018
| Guest Age | Online Fee | Ticket Booth Price |
|---|---|---|
| Children 0-3 | Free | Free |
| Kids 4-11 | $24.95 | $24.95 |
| Adults 12-64 | $29.95 | $29.95 |
| Seniors 65+ | $27.95 | $27.95 |
| Travel Facts Space Center Houston Visit |
|---|
| Location: 1601 NASA Parkway, Houston, Texas |
| Opening Hours: Weekdays: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm Weekends: 10:00 am – 6:00 pm |
| Tour Suggested Time: 4-6 hours |
| Fun to know: Ticket admission is good for all day; keep your children in your sight at all times; the place is stroller friendly; Parking Fee is $5 |
So, are you now curious and excited about going and having your own space adventure? Maybe now is the time for you to plan your trip to 'NASA's Johnson Space Center'.
That's all for today... until my next travel blog. Ciao!
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