Don’t Miss the Fun: August 2–3, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Space Center Houston will celebrate Astronaut Days this upcoming weekend from Aug. 2 to 3, with a variety of interactive exhibits, presentations, and special guest appearances from veteran astronauts.
Meet the Astronauts
Special guests include astronauts Don Thomas, Anna Fisher, and Carl Walz. Dr. Thomas will speak on Saturday, Aug. 2, during “Astronaut Mission Memories” in the Mission Briefing Center. Walz will appear both days, and Fisher joins on Saturday only.
Tour the Astronaut Training Facility
Guests can take a tram tour of NASA Johnson Space Center’s Astronaut Training Facility, nicknamed the “astronaut’s toybox.” This elevated path provides a view of where astronauts train for missions and engineers build next-gen space vehicles. The tour is included with general admission and subject to availability.
Breakfast with an Astronaut
For an upgraded experience, attendees can purchase tickets to “Breakfast with an Astronaut,” featuring a catered breakfast by Wolfgang Puck. Guests will hear firsthand stories from a veteran astronaut and join an interactive Q&A session.
Interactive Activities and Demos
Throughout the day, guests can enjoy a variety of science activations, live demonstrations, and hands-on experiments:
- The Smells of Space
- Chef Kitchen Demo
- Lunar Outpost Station featuring the new Lunar Terrain Vehicle
- Science Deck and Postcards to Space
- Space Playlist with Kinetic Lights, curated by astronauts
Pop-Up Labs
- Radiation (UV Beads): Make bookmarks while learning about AstroRad suits.
- Functional Training Test: Simulate astronaut recovery tests post-mission.
- Under Pressure: Use marshmallows to demonstrate vacuum pressure in space.
- Story Corner: Enjoy a reading of “You Are Going”, an Artemis generation story.
Photo Opportunities and Characters
Don’t miss photo ops with the floating astronaut, Mark III suit, and a meet-and-greet with Commander Quest. On Saturday only, view a special LEGO display near the Lunar Outpost.
For more ideas on exploring Houston and finding things to do, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.