The Houston Space Center - By: Wayne Gunnstone, Posted on: 2006-12-28

If you are a space exploration buff, a visit to the Houston Space Center is essential for you. Even if you do not harbor that much of interest in space exploration but happen to be in the neighborhood, just take your family to the Space Center, it is worth a visit. It may inspire your kid to take up the profession when he or she grows up. Houston Space Center bundles learning and fun and is an exciting place for everyone- whether you want to inspire your child to a career in space exploration, or are just a lover of American History, space or science.

The Houston Space Center offers a learning experience for both kids and adults alike. Children of all ages will find something to learn and explore space in Kids Space Place made for the budding astronauts. They will enjoy tons of hands-on activities just for kids, while they learn about space, science, and the importance of space exploration.

Moreover, you will get an exclusive behind-the-scenes peek on the NASA tram tour at the space center. You can see the historic mission control that guided the early space exploration programs of the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo missions at the Johnson Space Center. Also, you will get a peek at Hanger X and astronaut training facilities. If you are lucky, you may even get a glimpse of actual astronauts training for their missions!

The center Astronaut Gallery displays portraits of every U.S. astronaut along with many space suits and tons of memorabilia. It is the moving memorial to the astronauts killed either in training or during the mission, including the crew of Apollo One, Challenger, and the recent Columbia disasters.

The Feel of Space actually gives you the feel of what it would be like to live, sleep, and work in space. Through this interactive presentation you can see how the astronauts live while in outer space, while a Mission Briefing Officer tells you secrets and answers any questions. You can experience landing an orbiter, exploring the shuttle, or even retrieving a wayward satellite!

Visit the Space Center Theater and see the history of space flight on the big screen! From President Kennedy’s daring goal to put a man on the moon by the end of the decade to Neil Armstrong’s classic first line, “one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” The five-storey screen presents history in bigger than life form, allowing visitors of all ages to transport back through history and propel them into the future of space exploration.

Tailor-made movies showcasing different events and experiences cater to kids and adults alike. The Blast Off Theater shows the meticulous procedure put into place when a space shuttle leaves for the International Space Station. It has many actual behind the scenes activities, and amply shows the activities and emotions in mission control and mission status center.

Whatever your reasons for visiting Houston Space Center, don’t miss the great calendar of events. Be sure to stop by the Space Trader for educational and unique mementoes of your trip. From odd offerings like astronaut ice cream to reproductions of newspapers commemorating the historic landing on the moon, you can find anything under the sun at the Space Trader! The center also offers a variety of educational activities, perfect for school groups or a family vacation that is as educational as it is fun. If you are in the Houston area, the space center is approximately 25 miles south of downtown, so it’s well within reach on your visit!

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Wayne Gunnstone is the owner and operator of F houston, the web's premier resource for information about houston, For questions or comments about this article visit: www.fdhouston.com/articles
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