If you have half a day in Houston and only do one thing, do this. Space Center Houston is the official visitor centre for NASA’s Johnson Space Center, and unlike most “space museums” it is attached to the real thing. Astronauts still train here. Mission Control is still here.
The tram tour is the reason to come. It takes you across the working campus to the historic Apollo Mission Control room, restored to how it looked in 1969, and to the building where the Saturn V rocket lies on its side. Standing under it is the moment most people remember. Tram tours sell out on weekends and school holidays, so book a timed slot online when you book your ticket, not when you arrive.
Back in the main building there is a space shuttle carrier aircraft you can walk through, moon rocks you can touch, and enough hands-on exhibits to keep children occupied for hours. Adults tend to find it just as absorbing.
Plan on four to five hours including the drive. It is about 25 miles from our homes near the Medical Center, straight down I-45. Weekday mornings are quietest. There is a decent cafe on site but the food around Clear Lake is better if you can wait.
