Three NASA Tram Tours at Space Center Houston

​Operated by the Manned Space Flight Education Foundation, Space Center Houston remains a renowned nonprofit educational institution and space museum dedicated to science education and space exploration. The center features over 400 space artifacts, exhibits, and experiences to provide an immersive journey into America's human space-flight program. NASA Tram Tours serve as key attractions at Space Center Houston.

NASA Tram Tours provide an exclusive opportunity to visit NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) and witness the marvels of human space exploration firsthand. Situated across 1,600 acres, JSC serves as the training hub for NASA astronauts and houses Mission Control, where a dedicated team in Houston supports astronauts in space. Three tram tours are available: the Historic Mission Control Tour, Astronaut Training Facility Tour, and George W.S. Abbey Rocket Park Tour.

The Historic Mission Control Tour takes guests back to the iconic Christopher C. Kraft Mission Control. The tour focuses on NASA's Gemini and Apollo missions, including the historic first lunar landing. Located in Building 30 of NASA Johnson Space Center, this facility served as the nerve center for nine Gemini and all Apollo lunar missions. From here, the NASA team orchestrated the entire Apollo 11 mission from liftoff to landing. Guests experience the same monitors and rotary dials used during the Apollo era. They can also experience the final moments of the Apollo 11 lunar landing as they hear Neil Armstrong's famous words.

Guests must reserve a timed spot in advance for the Historic Mission Control Tram Tour when purchasing their general admission ticket. Tours depart from the left queue at the NASA Tram Tour boarding area, with the last tour departing two hours before closing. Historic Mission Control may not be available on weekends, and tours are subject to weather conditions and facility availability. Visitors must purchase it as an add-on to a general admission ticket at an additional cost.

The Astronaut Training Facility Tour allows guests to learn about how NASA astronauts prepare for their missions and the development of cutting-edge space exploration vehicles. Since 1980, the Astronaut Training Facility at NASA Johnson Space Center has been the training ground for every NASA astronaut. This tour offers a rare glimpse into this facility, where astronauts undergo rigorous training before missions.

Initially designed to support the space shuttle program, the facility has evolved to accommodate various training needs. Today, it houses exploration rover prototypes, robotics projects like Valkyrie, and modules for the International Space Station. It also serves as a testing ground for Orion, NASA's crewed space vehicle.

During the tour, visitors walk along an elevated path overlooking the training sessions and witness astronauts and engineers in action. The tour also includes a visit to Rocket Park, where one of only three Saturn V rockets is on display. The general admission cost to the Space Center Houston includes the open-air tour.

The George WS Abbey Rocket Park Tour at Space Center Houston enables guests to explore the center's impressive rockets collection, including one of only three remaining Saturn V rockets worldwide. The Saturn V stands as the tallest, heaviest, and most powerful rocket ever flown, which played a pivotal role in the Apollo program to send Americans to the Moon. Guests can observe the towering 363-foot tall rocket that boasts a staggering weight of 6.2 million pounds when fueled for launch. Guests learn about the stages of launch and flight as they discover how the Saturn V rocket functioned during its missions.

Serving as Houston's premier attraction and the official visitor center of NASA Johnson Space Center, it has welcomed over 25 million visitors since its inception in 1992 and receives 1.25 million visitors annually.

Joel Bartsch

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