Page Updated: February 23, 2024

Space Center Houston

Independence Plaza - Houston TX

Home of astronaut training and Historic Mission Control, Space Center Houston is the only place visitors can touch a moon rock and watch astronauts train for real-life missions.

Highlights include Independence Plaza with its mounted Independence replica visitors can enter and explore, an actual Saturn V Rocket on display in George W.S. Abbey Rocket Park, and the Astronaut Training Facility.

One hundred percent off my game on this one. I didn’t research it prior to arrival. I didn’t look at the map when we arrived. We’ll absolutely be returning at another time to see the entire facility available to the public.

Not prepping or referring to the map, I didn’t know what all was available to us and therefore missed half of this experience.

Tram tours at Space Center Houston are included in the cost of general admission ticket. The tram tour is the only way for visitors to see the Astronaut training facility - the only one in the country and where every NASA Astronaut has trained.

Don’t miss the tram!

Though we foolishly missed the tram experience, we still spent four hours roaming the exhibits of Space Center Houston. There are five exhibit halls within the main facility and also the Space Center Theater.

We spent a good chunk of time in Independence Plaza walking through the Space Shuttle Independence replica and the original 905 shuttle carrier aircraft.