Blast Off into Space in Houston, Texas

When visiting Houston be sure to stop off at the Johnson Space Center for a total immersion into NASA's history. Upon entering the Space Center, be sure to pick up a schedule of exhibition and tram times in order to plan one's visit accordingly.

The Destiny Theater and the Starship Gallery traces the progress of America's Manned Space Flight. Among the items featured in this exhibit include an original model of the Goddard Rocket, the Gemini V Spacecraft, a Lunar Roving Vehicle Trainer, the actual Mercury Atlas 9 Faith 7" capsule, the Apollo 17 Command Module, the giant Skylab Trainer and the Apollo-Soyuz Trainer.

Over at the Blast Off Theater, experience the sounds and sensations of a Space Shuttle launch in "Blast Off Theater. Then learn about how astronauts live aboard the space station courtesy of the Living in Space module. A Mission Briefing Officer employs a volunteer from the audience to give a live presentation on how astronauts live in a space environment. Also, the Space Center Theater's films "To be An Astronaut" and "International Space Station" take the viewer along the life of an astronaut from the time they receive notification of their acceptance into the training program to their first mission.

The 90-minute behind-the-scenes NASA Tram Tour includes Rocket Park, home to Apollo 18, Building 9 where astronauts train, Building 30N home of the "Apollo Era" Mission Control and other astronaut training sites. Also, the Astronaut Gallery features the world's best collection of spacesuits including Astronaut John Young's ejection suit and Judy Resnik's T-38 flight suit.

The museum is open Daily from 10am to 5pm. From June through August the museum is open on the weekend until 6pm or 7pm. Check the website for exact dates when the museum will be open later.

Admission is $20.95 for adults, $16.95 for children (Age 4-11) and $19.95 for seniors. Buy tickets online to save fifty-percent on the ticket price. There are additional fees for rides like the flight simulators.

Those who will be in the Houston area and want to sample the city's sites should get a Houston CityPASS. In addition to the Johnson Space Center, the CityPASS offers admission into the Downtown Aquarium and the Houston Museum of Natural Science. Then one can choose between the Houston Zoo or the Health Museum and the Children's Museum of Houston or the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. The CityPASS costs $39.00 for adults and $29.00 for children.