marshall space flight center tours

How To Visit NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center.

marshall space flight center tours

NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center is the ultimate spaced themed attraction for any traveller visiting Huntsville, Alabama and wants to learn more about NASA’s history and future of space exploration! Find out how you can visit NASA’s Marshall Center for yourself here.

Want to peek behind the scenes at NASA? Did you know you could do just that? Just one of the many epic space themed bucket list attractions in Huntsville, Alabama, NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center is an absolute must see for any space geek, nerd or traveller.

NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center is located on Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville. Being a military base you do have to go through certain security checkpoints and get your visitors badge before being allowed in, but with a tour bus that leaves from the US Space and Rocket Center, home to Space Camp and Marshall’s official visitor center, it really is very easy to book a tour and visit for yourself.

With a seemingly endless array of mechanical artefacts, jaw dropping facility tours and interactive exhibits, the Marshall Space Flight Center highlights the legacy of NASA in Huntsville and showcases the current technology and future innovations of space travel that will take us further and further into the stars and make space tourism a reality! So how exactly do you get to tour Marshall Space Flight Center and what is there to see and do when you get there?

Where Is NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center?

Marshall Space Flight Center is located on the U.S. Army’s Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama. To get to Redstone Arsenal’s Gate 9 Visitor Center by car from Huntsville International Airport, just follow the signs along Houston Goodson Way and Glenn Hearn Boulevard to I-565 East. At Exit 14, turn right onto ramp AL-255 on Rideout Road and follow the Gate 9 Visitor Center signs.

If you are coming from the Space and Rocket Center there is a direct tour bus that can take you.

marshall space flight center tours

How To Visit NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center.

If you have prior approval for a visit, you may enter through the Redstone Arsenal Visitor’s Center at Gate 9 on Rideout Road where decals and badges may be obtained for approved visitors. You can find a map of the Redstone Arsenal gates and gate hours at:

How To Book Your NASA Marshall Tour.

To visit NASA Marshall you can book your tickets for the bus tour on the day at the US Space and Rocket Center’s main ticket desk up until 1200 hours, or you can buy them in advance over the phone. Seats are limited every day so it may be a good idea to book in advance.

How Much Is A Tour Of NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center?

Space & Rocket Center bus tours of Marshall are $20 for guests ages 5 and up. Children 4 and under ride free.

NASA’s Marshall Tour Logistics.

Once you have booked your tour via phone or at the Space and Rocket Center, it is pretty straightforward.

  • The bus departs from the USSRC at precisely 1230 hours.
  • You will need ID such as a drivers license or passport.
  • You are not allowed to bring any food, drink or large bags.

What Is There To See At NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center?

The tour of NASA Marshall takes you through a number of buildings and sites that have played an essential part in NASAs history and still do today. They aren’t so much attractions like you will find at the USSRC, but you will come away with a renewed awe and respect for mankind’s first steps into the stars.

Building 4200. Marshall’s Central Laboratory and Office building.

marshall space flight center tours

This building is most visitors first introduction to MSFC, it is a working administrative building with labs that aren’t open to the public, but there are a number of installations of actual rocket engines here that you can explore at your leisure! It is simply unbelievable that these feats of engineering went to space!

The Historic Test Stands.

marshall space flight center tours

These historic test stands are – as the name suggests – the original testing locations for where Wernher Von Braun and the scientists working on the original space program tested the first rockets that actually took mankind to the moon. Honestly I don’t know many sites of such historical importance that get as little fanfare as these test stands. The huge Dynamic Test Stand in the picture above was used to test the actual Saturn V and Space Shuttle rockets! It is defunct now, being replaced by much more modern versions at Stennis Space Center , but the sheer size is mindblowing, and it is difficult to imagine the sheer amount of heat and force this structure endured during testing.

Rocket Park.

Just like the Space and Rocket Center, Marshall has its very own Rocket Park too, showcasing the rockets developed here during the early testing pahase at NASA, including the Hermes, which is essentially just a converted WWII rocket, a Jupiter C which launched Explorer 1 and the iconic Saturn 1.

The HOSC and ISS Payload Operations Center.

Michael Huxley and Scotty at NASA Marshall Space Center

The Huntsville Operations Support Center, or HOSC is one of the best parts of the tour of Marshall. Also known as the ISS Payload Operations Center, this is essentially the nerve centre of the International Space Station. the place in all those sci fi movies where the room full of computer techs and an Army General or two whoop and cheer when the astronaut saves the world at the very last second! Nothing like that happened during my visit unfortunately, but you can see genuine NASA employees going about their daily business, and they genuinely – and I cannot stress just how awesome this is – have an actual honest to God NASA Engineer with the last name Scott. And he does do Scotty impressions when he talks to the ISS. I told you Star Trek was real!

Behind The Scenes At NASA.

marshall space flight center tours

I have lost count of the amount of facility tours I have been on through the years, and all of them where interesting in many different ways, but nothing can compare to being behind the scenes at NASA. The Marshall Space Flight Center Tour was one of those truly outstanding moments that will stay ingrained in my memory forever and is an absolute must see for anyone coming to Huntsville. Even if you only have a passing interest in space exploration, to see actual NASA facilities up close and personal like this is a true privilege, and one that you will not want to miss.

Did you enjoy this article? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments section below or on my  Facebook  or  Twitter  pages and please feel free to share it with any or all of the social media buttons. If you want to get more great backpacking tips, advice and inspiration, please subscribe to updates via email in the box to your right.

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The Ultimate Guide To Space Camp In Huntsville, Alabama.

Travelling On A Geek Odyssey In Huntsville Alabama. 

Why Huntsville Alabama Is The Next Must See Travel Destination.

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Michael Huxley is a published author, professional adventurer and founder of the travel website, Bemused Backpacker. He has spent the last twenty years travelling to over 100 countries on almost every continent, slowly building Bemused Backpacker into a successful business after leaving a former career in emergency nursing and travel medicine, and continues to travel the world on numerous adventures every year.

10 comments on “ How To Visit NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. ”

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Getting a behind the scenes look like this must be amazing, I’m actually jealous!

' src=

It genuinely was!

' src=

Why did I not know about this sooner?

I felt the exact same when I first found out!

' src=

Definitely a unique experience! I can’t believe they have tours like this.

Honestly I couldn’t either until I actually experienced it, I was genuinely lost for words, which for me says a lot!

' src=

I can’t believe you can actually go and visit some of these sites! I always thought they’d be heavily guarded and top secret!

It’s a fair assumption given that it is NASA and an active military base is part of the tour, but you genuinely can go and see all of it!

' src=

My husband would love a visit here, I think I’ll plan a trip for his birthday next year!

I’m sure you’ll both have an amazing time!

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BUS TOUR: Marshall Space Flight Center (suspended)

  • One Tranquility Base
  • Huntsville, AL 35805-3399
  • 256-837-3400 | (800) 637-7223
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Bus Tour: Marshall Space Flight Center

Daily - 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Departing from blue awning in front of the main entrance

Ages 5 and up: $20 | Children, ages four and under: Free

Short of becoming a rocket scientist, there’s no better way to get a glimpse of NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) than on the MSFC Bus Tour also known as the NASA Bus Tour!

Take a bus from the U.S. Space & Rocket Center for an exciting tour of the MSFC facilities, including the Propulsion Research and Development Laboratory. Don’t miss your chance to visit the Redstone Test Stand, a National Historic Landmark, where static tests of the Juno I and Mercury Redstone Launch Vehicles were performed from 1953 to 1961. 

The tour is led by a trained Museum Presenter, allowing guests to sit back and relax as the presenter explains the past, present and future of Marshall Space Flight Center. The tour lasts approximately 2 - 2 ½ hours and returns to the main entrance at the Rocket Center.

Marshall Space Flight Center Bus Tour tickets are sold separately from museum tickets. Tickets must be purchased at the main ticket desk or call 256-721-7114 for pre-paid reservations.

Please note that bus tour ticket sales close each day at 12 p.m. CST. If you or someone in your party requires accommodations for any disability, please contact our guest services staff at (256) 721-7114 in advance. Arrangements can be made to accommodate your request.

Please note that the tour includes multiple stops where guests will be getting off and back on the bus. Bathroom access is limited.

NASA Bus Tour Rules:

  • All participants must be U.S. citizens
  • Picture I.D. (state issued driver's license or Passport) required for anyone 16 years of age or older.
  • No large bags or backpacks
  • Bags may be subject to inspection
  • No food or drinks
  • Bathrooms are not readily available
  • No weapons allowed
  • No outstanding warrants

*Seats are limited and reservations are recommended

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  • Closed: Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Years Day
  • Hours: Mon - Sun 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  • Description Plan an event that will give your guests memories for a lifetime! A Smithsonian Affiliate, the U.S. Space & Rocket Center (USSRC) houses the most complete collection of national treasures from space exploration on the planet. This exclusive venue offers a breathtaking backdrop that cannot be found anywhere else in the world! They welcome all types of events – both large and small – and their team of experienced professionals is ready to assist you in planning all of the details to make your visit a spectacular success.
  • Largest Room 68200
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  • Reception Capacity 1000
  • Space Notes Additionally: Apollo Terrace - Just outside the doors of Saturn V Hall is the Apollo Terrace, featuring a stunning view of the vertical Saturn V and Apollo Courtyard. Enjoy intimate dining in the striking shadow of the largest rocket ever built. Capacity: 100 Apollo Courtyard - At the Apollo Courtyard you can enjoy your reception or picnic under the Saturn V moon rocket. Dine among the footprints of astronauts and tributes to their space missions and admire the collection of commemorative bricks honoring the innovative engineers and scientists who took us to the moon. Capacity: 250-500 Main Exhibit Area - Located at the heart of the U. S. Space & Rocket Center is the Main Exhibit Area, which lends itself to exciting receptions. The area offers a one-of-a-kind setting with historic space capsules. Hands-on-exhibits will entertain your guests as they land a space ship on the moon, dock with a satellite or use a robotic arm. There is no place like it on Earth! Capacity: 250 Shuttle Park - Dances and receptions are easily accommodated in the lovely outdoor setting of Shuttle Park, which features the only place in the world where you can stand under a “full stack” space shuttle – Pathfinder. Adjacent to Pathfinder is an authentic supersonic T-38 Talon – a training aircraft used by NASA astronauts to sharpen their piloting skills and get accustomed to the gravitational forces of liftoff and reentry into the Earth’s atmosphere. Reception Capacity: 1,000
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Saturn V Hall

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Apollo Terrace

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The Huntsville/Madison County Visitor Center® and the Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau are temporarily located at 132 Holmes Avenue NW.

NASA Centers to Visit for an Out of This World Vacation

Wondering what to do for summer vacation? Why not visit NASA?

NASA has multiple centers located across the United States, many of which provide tours or host visitor centers that are open to the public. Most of these visitor centers have space-injected science museums, and they can make fantastic vacation stops.

Click through this countdown to learn about opportunities to visit a NASA center or visitor center. Our list includes details about visiting Johnson Space Center, Kennedy Space Center, Marshall Space Flight Center, Langley Research Center, Stennis Space Center, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Goddard Space Flight Center, Wallops Flight Facility, Glenn Research Center (and Plum Brook Station), Ames Research Center and Armstrong Flight Research Center. We've also included three facilities that serve as NASA visitor centers but that are not close to NASA facilities.

We've included a brief description of each NASA center, and details about what visitors can expect, including what you can see at the visitor center, and whether or not tours of the facility are available.

We've included details about each center's operational hours and cost of admission, but please check the center's website before planning your trip. Most NASA centers are closed on major holidays.

For more summer vacation ideas, see our list of great summer vacation ideas for space lovers and great summer vacation ideas for science fiction fans . Or find out how to see a rocket launch this summer .

NEXT: Johnson Space Center and Space Center Houston

Johnson Space Center and Space Center Houston

NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston is home to mission control, the contact point for astronauts in space. (Hence the phrase, "Houston, we have a problem.") 

Space Center Houston is the visitor center associated with Johnson, and is located right next door to the NASA facility. It's a massive science museum with tons of artifacts, interactive exhibits and live events. In June 2018, the science and space exploration learning center also became the first of its kind to be designated as a Certified Autism Center by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards, according to their website. The museum recently opened a new exhibit about aerospace innovations, called " Above and Beyond ," which runs this summer until Sept. 9.

Space Center Houston is a great day-trip location for space fans, but there's enough going on there to fill multiple trips. [ Space Center Houston: A Tour in Photos ]

In addition, there are tram tours from the center through Johnson. Visitors get to see the current mission-control room, which is responsible for operations on the International Space Station. They'll also see the historic mission-control room, where NASA monitored its Apollo missions, as well as nine Gemini missions. Also on the tour are the Saturn V Rocket Park, home to a real "mighty and massive" Saturn V rocket, as the tour web page notes. Finally, the tour stops at Building 9, which provides a glimpse into some of the science and tech being developed for human spaceflight.

Tram tours run year-round but can be canceled due to bad weather or other unforeseen circumstances. You can buy timed tickets ahead of time. The Space Center Houston is open seven days a week, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. all summer long, and closes at 5 p.m. Monday through Friday after Sept. 4. Entry tickets are $29.95 for adults, and $24.95 for children ages 4-11. Children ages 3 and under are free.

NEXT: Kennedy Space Center

Kennedy Space Center and Visitor Complex

Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Titusville, Florida (just outside Orlando), is NASA's human spaceflight launch facility. From Gemini through the space shuttle, Kennedy was the place where all of NASA's astronauts would bid a (temporary) farewell to Earth.

To take a tour of KSC, head over to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex , a massive, amusement-park-like area.

There are two types of tours. The KSC Bus Tour gives a "drive-by view of a launch pad" and other sites on the KSC campus, including the Apollo 8 launch site. The tours are 45 minutes long, but allow an additional 2 hours to view the Apollo/Saturn V Center and to allow for the return ride, which lasts about 20 minutes, according to their website. Tours leave from the visitor center every 15 minutes, from 10 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. The tour is included in the cost of admission to the center, which is $50 for adults, and $40 for children ages 3-11. [ Photos: The Kennedy Space Center, NASA's Historic Spaceport ]

But visitors who want a closer view of KSC should consider the " Explore Tour or the Cape Canaveral Early Space Tour . These tours go beyond the regular bus tour and allow guests to learn about specific aspects of KSC. Keep in mind that rocket launches are once again taking place from Launch Complex 39A, and therefore, "safety protocols require an alternate tour bus route during days leading up to a launch," according to the website. To learn more about each tour, go to the ticket section of the KSC website , and scroll down to see a description of each tour. The "Cape Canaveral Early Space Tour" is only available Thursday through Sunday. To find out if a tour is available on a particular day, select the number of tickets you'd like for the tour, and click "Next." You'll be taken to a page that will show you the dates and times that are available for the tour.

The KSC Bus Tour is the only one included in the admission ticket; the other tours cost an additional $25 for adults and $19 for children ages 3-11. KSC recommends buying tickets ahead of time.   

In addition to the KSC tour, the visitor center has plenty to offer. The Rocket Garden is home to multiple NASA rockets, some of which tower more than 100 feet high. There are also replicas of the tiny capsules that flew the first humans to space during the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo eras. There's also the Saturn V rocket center, a tribute to the largest rocket ever made. Kennedy is also home to the space shuttle Atlantis, and we challenge space fans not to get a little teary-eyed during the video that plays at the entrance of the shuttle exhibit. 

NEXT: Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Caltech

Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Caltech

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, is one of NASAs most active facilities when it comes to building and operating unmanned space probes. It's the home base of a swarm of NASA's scientific missions, including the completed Cassini mission to Saturn, the Dawn mission to Ceres, the Juno mission to Jupiter, the InSight mission to Mars and the OCO-2 mission studying Earth's climate change.

JPL offers free tours of its facilities to members of the public, which includes a stop by the visitor center, home to a beautiful display tracing the history of NASA's exploration of the various planets, moons and other major bodies in the solar system. Visitors may also see the Space Flight Operations Facility and the Spacecraft Assembly Facility.

Keep in mind that tours must be reserved at least three weeks in advance, and that tours fill up two to three months in advance. The JPL tour website advises guests to check back in early August for tour availability in January 2019. Tours can be booked for individuals and small groups, large groups over 20 people, and school groups. Tours are generally held at 1 p.m. and last between 2 and 2.5 hours. JPL also opens its doors to the public for special events .

You might also consider stopping in on one of JPL's free lecture series , which bring "the excitement of the space program's missions, instruments and other technologies" to JPL employees and the public. These free lectures are open to the public and no reservations are required, but seating is limited, so arrive early. Each talk is delivered twice — once on Thursday night and once on Friday night, typically at 7 p.m. The talks take place at different locations, so be sure to check the website.

Visitors can also stop by the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), which founded JPL. The two institutions work closely together on NASA missions, and Caltech is home to five NASA facilities, including those that manage the Spitzer Space Telescope and the Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR). 

Check the Caltech tours page for information about self-guided campus tours, as well as architectural tours, and high school student and prospective student tours. The school also hosts public events. Check the public events calendar to find out about other events.

JPL is about an hour outside Los Angeles, which is home to the California Science Center, a massive science museum with lots of hands-on exhibits and space-related attractions, including the space shuttle Endeavour. To find out more about seeing a space shuttle this summer, check out our list of best summer vacation destinations for space fans .

JPL is also three hours away from Vandenberg Air Force Base, where you can see a rocket launch this summer .

NEXT: Langley Research Center and the Virginia Air and Space Center

Langley Research Center and the Virginia Air and Space Center

The Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, was the first civilian spaceflight laboratory in the U.S. The lab played a crucial role in the Mercury and space shuttle programs.

The Virginia Air and Space Center serves as Langley's visitor center, and this interactive museum puts an emphasis on flight. In addition to NASA artifacts, there are multiple aircraft on display. There are lots of NASA-related exhibits, including a solarium that surrounds visitors in images taken by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory. There's also "Engineer it! an Imagination Playground" that "allows families to have fun creating and learning together."

The center is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 12 to 5 p.m. Tickets are $19.50 for adults, and $16.00 for children ages 3-18. Admission includes an IMAX movie.

Unfortunately, there are no regular public tours of the Langley facility. Occasionally, NASA will open the facility for special events, but none are planned for 2018, according to Langley representatives.

NEXT: Stennis Space Center and Infinity Science Center

Stennis Space Center and the Infinity Science Center

The John C. Stennis Space Center is in Hancock County, Mississippi, near the state border with Louisiana. Upon its construction in the 1960s, "the center's primary mission was to flight-certify all first and second stages of the Saturn V rocket for the Apollo program," according to NASA. In 1975, the space shuttle main engine was tested at Stennis, and testing on shuttle engines continued there until 2009. Stennis is now a "multidisciplinary facility comprised of NASA and more than 40 other resident agencies."

To see the Stennis Space Center, you'll first go to the Infinity Science Center in Pearlington, Mississippi, where every admission ticket includes a "behind-the-scenes tour" of Stennis.

Forty-minute bus tours of the Stennis Space Center happen Monday through Saturday at 11 a.m., noon, 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. Tours fill up on a first-come first-served basis.

The Infinity Science Center is an interactive science center that features exhibits and attractions from which visitors can learn about spaceflight, aviation, ocean exploration and more. Check the center's website to learn about special events and programs .

In addition to the indoor attractions, visitors can stroll down Possum Walk Trail. From the center's website: "Markers along the way present the history of Possum Walk, a now deserted African-American community, as well as Logtown, an old logging community relocated in the wake of the 1960's Space Program. Interpretive signs along the trail point out some of the plants and animals native to this part of Hancock County." The trail is closed between Oct. 15 and Feb. 15. During the rest of the year, the trams run Tuesday through Saturday at 10 p.m., 11 p.m., 1 p.m. and 2 p.m.

The Infinity Science Center is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $18 for adults, and $11 for children ages 4 to 13, and includes a bus tour of Stennis. The Possum Walk Tram is an additional $3.

NEXT: Marshall Space Flight Center and the US Space and Rocket Center

Marshall Space Flight Center and the US Space and Rocket Center

NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, has a spaceflight history that precedes the formation of NASA. Early rocket pioneer Wernher von Braun and a group of German scientists worked at the Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville in the 1950s, before the agency's formation. The work contributed to the first launch of a U.S. satellite into space, and since then, Marshall has performed a variety of functions for NASA's human spaceflight program. The facility has tested rocket hardware, as well as scientific hardware and instruments.

Marshall's official visitor center is the U.S. Space and Rocket Center , home to Space Camp. (For more information about attending Space Camp, check out our recommendations for the best summer vacations for space lovers.)

The Rocket Center "has one of the largest collections of rockets and space memorabilia anywhere in the world," according to the center's website . That includes a display of a Saturn V rocket and the world's only fully stacked Space Transportation System (a space shuttle stacked on top of a rocket in the configuration that would be assembled for a real launch). Check the website for information about featured exhibits .

The Rocket Center offers bus tours of the Marshall Space Flight Center that includes multiple stops in the facility. Tickets for the tour are $20 for visitors ages 5 and up. Tour buses depart the Rocket Center daily at 12:30 p.m. The tour takes between 2 and 2.5 hours.

Admission to the Space and Rocket center is open seven days a week, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are $25 for adults, and $17 for kids ages 5-12. Tickets to the center's IMAX or National Geographic movies are an additional $5 with the price of admission; without admission, the movies are $8 for adults and $7 for kids.

NEXT: Wallops Flight Facility and Visitor Center

Wallops Flight Facility and Visitor Center

NASA's Wallops Flight Facility on Wallops Island, Virginia, is one of three large rocket launch locations in the contiguous U.S. In addition, Wallops is "NASA's principal facility for management and implementation of suborbital research programs," according to NASAs website .

The Wallops Flight Facility Visitor Center "features exhibits about aeronautics, orbital and sub-orbital rockets, scientific balloons, current missions and the history of Wallops Flight Facility," and much more, according to the center's website. There are also lots of special events throughout the summer, including astronomy nights and a lecture series. Check the center's events website for specific dates, event descriptions and other details.

But perhaps the best reason to stop by the visitor center is to see a rocket launch. The center opens an hour before a launch takes place, even if the launch is taking place outside normal visitor center hours (this is subject to change for national security reasons). Sound from the control room is piped into the center, so guests can hear the preparations for launch, and the countdown. And, the center is nicely positioned to give a clear view of the launch pad. For large rocket launches (such as an Orbital ATK Antares rocket , which is used to send supplies to the International Space Station, among other things), it is recommended that guests arrive about 3 hours before launch to get a good spot. For smaller rocket launches (like sounding rockets), 1 hour is usually sufficient. Check out our guide to seeing a launch for more details, including launch dates.

The visitor center is free to the public, and is open daily from July 1 to Aug. 31, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. From September to June, the center is open Tuesday to Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tours of Wallops Flight Facility are available for groups of eight to 20 people, and can be booked by calling the Events and Outreach Coordinator: 757-824-2298. There are no tours of the facility for individuals and small groups.

NEXT: Glenn Research Center

Glenn Research Center and Great Lakes Science Center

NASA's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland was originally called the Aircraft Engine Research Laboratory. "Glenn excels in researching and developing innovative technologies for both aeronautics and space flight," according to NASA's website. "A multitude of NASA missions have included elements from Glenn, from the Mercury and Gemini projects to the Space Shuttle Program and the International Space Station."

The center's main campus, Lewis Field, is on 350 acres. Glenn's Plum Brook Station is located 50 miles west, in Sandusky, Ohio, and rests on 6,400 acres. Plum Brook "has large, unique facilities that simulate the environment of space," according to the website.

The center hosts tours of its facilities , which are offered one day each month, from April through October. Most of these tours require preregistration at least 30 days before the tour. Unfortunately, tours at Glenn Research Center are restricted to "U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents." If you wish to visit a NASA center with family or friends that don't meet these requirements, NASA centers like Kennedy Space Center in Florida are more amenable .

The official visitor center for Glenn is the Great Lakes Science Center in Cleveland. The center hosts an OMNIMAX theater, and a wide range of exhibits and artifacts, including a moon rock brought back by the Apollo 15 mission, the 1973 Skylab 3 Apollo Command Module and real NASA spacesuits. Check the website to find out more about what the center has to offer, including a schedule of special events.

NEXT: Ames Research Center and Visitor Center

Ames Research Center and Visitor Center

NASA's Ames Research Center , in Moffett Field, California (between Mountain View and Sunnyvale), is involved in a wide range of NASA missions. Ames is the lead center for the Kepler Space Telescope, which hunts for exoplanets, and a partner on the Mars Science Laboratory aboard the Curiosity Rover, and for the International Space Station.

There is a free public visitor center at Ames where guests can learn about "what we're doing at this amazing NASA facility," according to NASA's website. The center includes a Science on a Sphere Visualization System, which projects the surface of a planet onto a spherical surface — a very different view compared with seeing those surfaces in flat 2D. There's also various exhibits relating to some of the missions that Ames is involved with, a real moon rock on display, and a "Living and Working in Space" exhibit.

The Ames Visitor Center is much smaller than some of the other NASA visitor centers, and the average stay at the Ames center only about an hour, according to the center's website. NASA recommends that visitors hungry for more exhibits should visit the Moffett Field Historical Society Museum , which features exhibits and artifacts from local spaceflight and aviation history.

Ames does not offer public tours of its facilities.

The visitor center is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and noon to 4 pm. Saturday and Sunday. The center is closed Mondays. Be sure to check the website for directions to the visitor center.

NEXT: Armstrong Flight Research Center and Edwards Air Force Base

Armstrong Flight Research Center

Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, is NASA's "primary center for atmospheric flight research and operations," according to the agency website . The facility was involved with testing technologies for the space shuttle, and is currently responsible for space-to-ground communications support for the International Space Station. Armstrong is a testing ground for advanced aeronautics, space and related technologies, including doing testing and integration for the launch-abort system for the Orion crew vehicle, NASA's next human spaceflight vehicle.  

Unfortunately, NASA no longer offers tours of Armstrong. However, public tours are available of Edwards Air Force Base , where Armstrong is located. Check the Edwards tour page for more information. Individuals and small groups can sign up for monthly tours of the base, and the minimum age for children is 4 years. More frequent tours can be arranged for groups of at least 15 and no more than about 42 people.

Representatives from Edwards told Space.com that for small groups or individuals, it's best to  send an e-mail to [email protected] to reserve a tour spot. To make reservations for large groups, calling is best. You can arrange a tour by calling 661-277-3824.

The tour includes a visit to the Air Force Flight Test Museum as well as a windshield tour of the main base, according to Edwards' website.

NEXT: Other NASA Visitor Centers

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Calla Cofield joined Space.com's crew in October 2014. She enjoys writing about black holes, exploding stars, ripples in space-time, science in comic books, and all the mysteries of the cosmos. Prior to joining Space.com Calla worked as a freelance writer, with her work appearing in APS News, Symmetry magazine, Scientific American, Nature News, Physics World, and others. From 2010 to 2014 she was a producer for The Physics Central Podcast. Previously, Calla worked at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City (hands down the best office building ever) and SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory in California. Calla studied physics at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and is originally from Sandy, Utah. In 2018, Calla left Space.com to join NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory media team where she oversees astronomy, physics, exoplanets and the Cold Atom Lab mission. She has been underground at three of the largest particle accelerators in the world and would really like to know what the heck dark matter is. Contact Calla via: E-Mail – Twitter

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Insider tour of marshall space flight center.

  • On 13June2017

Pre-BEX tour for Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama

Marshall Space Flight Center is a space nerd’s dream! How can you go wrong with rocket engines, gigantic test stands, and amazing testing facilities that all help the NASA Space Launch System (SLS) rocket make it into deep space? You can’t! Not with Huntsville being one of the World’s Smartest Cities and this tour proves it.

I was able to be fortunate to be on a pre-BEX tour to the Marshall Space Flight Center at Redstone Arsenal while at the TBEX Conference. This tour is the same gold star treatment that they give Senators when visiting this facility. They test large-scale structures to make sure they can handle the loads that are seen in space. Currently, they are performing the testing for the Space Launch System rocket. Understanding the magnitude of this project, look at the person that is to scale at the bottom left of the rocket photo below. Can you find him?

Display of the SLS Rocket

Table of Contents

Marshall Space Flight Center

Todd May giving the introduction to the tour of Marshall Space Flight Center

Space Launch System

We then get an introduction to the Space Launch System (also known as SLS) by Tim Flores. This rocket is powered by four RS-25 engines firing simultaneously and will provide 2 million pounds of thrust while working in conjunction with a pair of solid rocket boosters. This mission to deep space is named EM-1 (Exploration Mission-1).

RS-25 engine

Advanced Manufacturing Center

Lunar module in the Advance Manufacturing Building at Marshall Space Flight Center

Secondary Payloads

10" scale MSA w/ Secondary Payloads

After the explanation of what Secondary Payloads are, we donned our NASA gear (we dubbed it the NASA raincoat since it was raining out). The ring that houses these eleven cubes just came in so; we got to see the actual SLS part. I can’t believe I am seeing a part of the Space Launch System that will be launching in 2019 and will be traveling to deep space and be orbiting the moon.

Heather Raulerson wearing protective clothing to see the MSA for the SLS rocket

Payload Operations Center

Payload Operations Center at Marshal Space Flight Center

What I enjoyed was the time to get to know some fellow TBEX travel bloggers before the conference began. My new friend, Leslie Gibbs, and I connected right off the bat. Didn’t matter that her family lives in Atlanta and I’m from Michigan. Our shared passion for travel is what brought all of us here to Huntsville in the first place.

Heather Raulerson and Leslie Gibbs in front of International Space Station Payload Operations Center building

Test Stands

We finished our tour, riding the bus to view the test stands. First stop is the National Historic Landmark of the Redstone first test stand. The second test stand is the S1C test stand that was used for the Saturn V engines (mentioned earlier). The third is the 65-foot tall Space Launch System Structural Load Test Stand. The last and the biggest is the SLS Test Stand 4693 which will be used for structural loads testing on the liquid hydrogen tank for the core stage of NASA’s Space Launch System. Test Stand 4693 is 21 stories tall and consists of 7 million pounds of steel. You can see these test stands on the Redstone Arsenal Space Rocket Center bus tour.

Redstone first test stand

All of the components of the Space Launch System have been made. The next step is to start installing all the parts and test them. They are being transported here on barges, trucks, and planes. This is an incredible tour to see everything that goes into launching the world’s most powerful rocket that will be launching into deep space in 2019. If you would like more information or keep up to date with the progress on SLS, click on the link to on Marshall Space Flight Center.

If you would like to see more things to do in Huntsville, read “ Top 6 Interesting Things to Do in Huntsville .” What an amazing city to visit that wasn’t on my radar but, definitely is now!

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The machine that makes the carbon fibres is impressive! What a neat place to get a look inside.

This is such a fascinating place to learn about space shuttles! It goes into such great details for those who are interested to know more about manufacturing of the rocket!

Very cool… looks like you can learn a lot in a visit!

Wow this place is so amazing. It’s so techy and get to learn everything about rocket!

A place for knowledge and how awesome it is to have seen all those space shuttles!! Amazing and I would love to visit there myself! Thanks for sharing with us! @ knycx.journeying

Gosh how very cool! What a great behind the scenes tour of a fascinating facility. I’ve been to the space museum near where we are but it’s not the same as a space centre with the lunar module casually shoved to one side! Thank you for all the pictures.

I know right! Sol, it was amazing to see all the gadgets and parts but, the cool thing is that most of those are going into the new SLS rocket!

2 million pounds of thrust is just mind-boggling. Looks like it was a great tour!

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Participants will embark on an exciting journey into the world of SCUBA diving in our Underwater Astronaut Trainer learning skills and descending 24’ to the bottom in order to experience Neutral Buoyancy. Guest will learn skills it takes to be confident and safe underwater from a skilled Dive…

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Currently closed for maintenance Open every day, weather, staffing, and temperature depending. Train like an astronaut and experience three times the force of gravity as you test your will in the G-Force Accelerator! Experience 3 Gs pushing on your body! Push against centrifugal force to test…

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MaxFlight’s state-of-the-art FS-VC Dual system is a fully interactive flight simulator. This full motion, 360-degree pitch, roll, and spin technology will put you in the pilot's seat – literally. You must be 42 inches to ride with an adult or 48 inches to ride alone. The combined weight of…

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Take a trip to the Moon with the crew of Apollo 11 or zip around the cosmos on this Virtual Reality motion-based simulator. Different options are available for this motion-based simulation, including Space Walk: Danger in Orbit; Screaming Eagles VR; Wing Walker; and Tank Commander. Tickets are $12…

Aviation Challenge Bus Tour

Enjoy a complimentary tour of Space Camp's Aviation Challenge facility led by Military Emeritus docents Fridays and Saturdays. This one-hour tour allows guests to see aircraft in the U.S. Space and Rocket Center's museum artifact collection. Please visit the Davidson Center for Space Exploration between 12 - 2 p.m. to sign up for the tour.  Bus transportation will depart from the Davidson Center at 2:00 p.m.

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marshall space flight center tours

Marshall Space Flight Center Tour

This trip will begin with a bus trip from the U.S. Space & Rocket Center for a tour of the MSFC facilities, including the Propulsion Research & Development Laboratory. Participants will visit the Redstone Test Stand, a National Historic Landmark, where static tests of the Juno 1 and Mercury Redstone Launch Vehicles were performed from 1953 to 1961. The tour departs at 12:30 pm from the blue canopy located in front of the main entrance to the US Space & Rocket Center and lasts approximately 2 – 2.5 hours and returns to the main entrance at the Rocket Center. Fee: $20.

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NASA Space Center Tours

Want to tour a NASA space center? You’re in luck because there are a number of centers that offer tours.

A few of these space centers are launch sites for spacecraft while others are research laboratories or astronaut training facilities.

These space centers have visitor centers where they welcome visitors and they also offer tours of their facilities.

The following is a list of NASA space center tours:

Marshall Space Flight Center:

Address: Martin Rd SW, Huntsville, AL

Website: www.nasa.gov/centers/marshall/about/visitor.html

The George C. Marshall Space Flight Center is a rocket and spacecraft propulsion research center located on the U.S. Army’s Redstone Arsenal in Alabama.

MSFC is NASA’s largest center and its first mission was to develop the Saturn launch vehicles for the Apollo program.

The center was also responsible for the design and assembly of the International Space Center and the creation of the Space Shuttle Launch System.

marshall space flight center tours

The center is home to the Hunstville Operations Support Center which supports ISS launch, payload, and experiment activities at the Kennedy Space Center and monitors rocket launches from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station when a Marshall Center payload is onboard.

Visitors are welcomed at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, Marshall’s official Visitor Center. The center used to offer public bus tours of MSFC but these tours have been temporarily suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The U.S. Space an Rocket Center features the largest collections of rockets and space memorabilia in the world, exhibits about the International Space Station and a G-Force Accelerator.

In addition, the center also offers Astronaut Chats with NASA astronauts, a space camp experience for both adults and children, space academy for both adults and children, a family space academy, an underwater astronaut training experience , and a flight simulator experience.

Kennedy Space Center:

Address: Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, Space Commerce Way, Merritt Island, FL

Website: www.kennedyspacecenter.com

The Kennedy Space Center is one of NASA’s 10 field centers and is located in Florida.

Since 1968, the Kennedy Space Center has been NASA’s primary launch center of human spaceflight and have carried out launch operations for the Apollo, Skylab, and Space Shuttle programs. It is also home to the Space Shuttle Atlantis exhibit at its visitor complex.

marshall space flight center tours

The Kennedy Space Center welcomes visitors to its Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex which is a space museum dedicated to the various missions of the space program. The complex offers two types of tours: the Kennedy Space Center Bus Tour and the KSC Explore Tour.

The Kennedy Space Center Bus Tour is included in the price of admission and is a 15-minute-long tour that includes exclusive areas of the Kennedy Space Center like launch complex 39B and the Vehicle Assembly Building and concludes at Apollo/Saturn V Center.

The KSC Explore Tour is a two-hour tour that goes beyond the Kennedy Space Center Bus Tour and makes several stops for photo opportunities and also concludes at Apollo/Saturn V Center. The tour is not included in the price of admission and requires an additional purchase.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kennedy Space Center VC (@kennedyspacecenter)

In addition to the tours, the complex also offers Astronaut Encounters , a NASA Overnight experience and allows visitors to touch a moon rock collected during the Apollo 17 mission.

Goddard Space Flight Center:

Address: 8800 Greenbelt Road, Greenbelt, MD

Website: www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/visitor/home/index.html

The Goddard Space Flight Center is a major NASA space research laboratory in Maryland.

GSFC develops and operates uncrewed scientific spacecraft and also conducts scientific investigation, development, manufacturing and operation of space systems.

The Goddard Visitor Center is free of charge and open to the public Tuesdays through Sundays and features exhibits and displays of the spacecraft and technologies developed there.

Facility tours are available to school, community and cultural groups Tuesday through Friday with prior reservation.

marshall space flight center tours

These facility tours visit satellite construction, testing and operations areas, depending on which areas are available that day. Facility tours are two hours long and also include a guided presentation.

Space Center Houston:

Address: 1601 E NASA Pkwy, Houston, TX

Website: spacecenter.org

Space Center Houston is the official visitor center for the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in Texas.

The Johnson Space Center is a NASA center where NASA astronauts are trained and is also the site of NASA’s Mission Control.

Space Center Houston features space artifacts, space capsules from various missions and lunar samples collected during the Apollo missions.

The center offers three NASA Tram Tours of the NASA Johnson Space Flight facilities: the George W.S. Abbey Rocket Park Tour, the Astronaut Training Facility Tour, and the Historic Mission Control Tour.

The open-air tram tours are 60-90 minutes long and are included in the price of admission but they are very popular and must be booked in advance.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Space Center Houston (@spacecenterhou)

In addition, the center also offers private VIP Tours which are bus tours of the iconic locations at NASA Johnson Space Center, like the Apollo Mission Control Center, Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory, International Space Station (ISS) Mission Control, Jake Garn Simulation and Training Facility, the Astronaut Training Facility and the Crew Systems Laboratory.

The VIP Tours are offered as a morning tour or an afternoon tour: the morning tour visits Mission Control and the afternoon tour visits the Astronaut Training facilities. The VIP Tours are only offered on weekdays and guests must be 14 years of age or older.

In addition to the tours, the center also offers Astronaut Encounters, a NASA Overnight experience and also allows visitors to touch a moon rock that was collected during the Apollo 17 mission.

marshall space flight center tours

Sources: “ NASA VIP Tour.” Space Center Houston, spacecenter.org/exhibits-and-experiences/nasa-vip-tour/ “ Plan Your Day.” U.S Space and Rocket Center, rocketcenter.com/planyourday “ Kennedy Space Center Bus Tour.” Kennedy Space Center, kennedyspacecenter.com/explore-attractions/behind-the-gates/featured-attraction/kennedy-space-center-bus-tour “ See Behind the Gates on the Kennedy Space Center Tours.” Kennedy Space Center, kennedyspacecenter.com/explore-attractions/behind-the-gates “ KSC Explore Tour.” Kennedy Space Center, kennedyspacecenter.com/explore-attractions/behind-the-gates/kennedy-space-center-explore-tour “ Visiting Marshall.” NASA, nasa.gov/centers/marshall/about/visitor.html Pearlman, Robert Z. “NASA Visitor Centers Launch New Passport for Space Tourists.” Space.com, 13 June. 2013, space.com/21549-nasa-visitor-centers-passport.html “ NASA Visitor Center Locations.” NASA, visitnasa.com/ “ NASA Visitor Centers.” NASA, visitnasa.com/nasa-visitor-centers “ Nasa Centers and Facilities.” NASA, nasa.gov/about/sites/index.html

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Marshall Space Flight Center: Bus Tour

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marshall space flight center tours

The tour lasts approximately 2 - 2 ½ hours and returns to the main entrance at the Rocket Center.

Tickets must be purchased at the main ticket desk or call 256-721-7114 for pre-paid reservations. Please note that bus tour ticket sales close each day at 12 p.m. CST.

If you or someone in your party requires accommodations for any disability, please contact our guest services staff at (256) 721-7114 in advance. Arrangements can be made to accommodate your request.

Please note that the tour includes multiple stops where guests will be getting off and back on the bus. Bathroom access is limited.

  • All participants must be U.S. citizens
  • Picture I.D. (state issued driver's license or Passport) required for anyone 16 years of age or older.
  • No large bags or backpacks
  • Bags may be subject to inspection
  • No food or drinks
  • Bathrooms are not readily available
  • No weapons allowed
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Arkansas PBS Explores Marshall Space Flight Center For Upcoming Eclipse Feature

I n preparation for the highly anticipated 2024 Total Solar Eclipse, Arkansas PBS has visited the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) and engaged with a group of esteemed experts for a forthcoming program. On January 23, 2024, the PBS team interviewed Robert Loper, Mitzi Adams, and Adam Kobelski from the Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory (ST13), alongside Joseph Matus from the Lunar Planetary Office (LP03). The interviews took place across various MSFC facilities, including the MSFC TV studio, the X-Ray and Cryogenic Facility, and the Stray Light Test Facility. The initiative is part of MSFC’s comprehensive dedication to both the Total Solar Eclipse and the Heliophysics Big Year, aiming to educate and prepare the public for the celestial phenomenon.

FAQ Section

When is the 2024 total solar eclipse expected to occur.

The 2024 Total Solar Eclipse is expected to take place in the year 2024, but the exact date has not been specified in the provided information.

Which MSFC specialists were interviewed by Arkansas PBS?

Robert Loper, Mitzi Adams, and Adam Kobelski from the Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory (ST13), and Joseph Matus from the Lunar Planetary Office (LP03) were interviewed for the program.

What facilities at MSFC were showcased during the Arkansas PBS site visit?

The MSFC TV studio, the X-Ray and Cryogenic Facility, and the Stray Light Test Facility were featured during the visit.

What is the purpose of Arkansas PBS’s program on the Total Solar Eclipse?

The program aims to raise awareness and educate the public about the upcoming 2024 Total Solar Eclipse, as well as highlighting MSFC’s involvement and research in heliophysics.

Arkansas PBS’s recent site visit to the Marshall Space Flight Center represents a valuable effort to inform and engage the public through firsthand insights from leading experts in space science. With interviews and features from MSFC’s state-of-the-art facilities, the anticipated program is poised to offer viewers an in-depth look at the preparation for the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse and the scientific endeavors associated with such a magnificent astronomical event. It underlines the ongoing commitment of both MSFC and educational broadcasters to promote scientific literacy and interest in the vast field of heliophysics.

Arkansas PBS Site Visit to Marshall Space Flight Center

Robert Loper, Mitzi Adams, and Adam Kobelski (ST13) and Joseph Matus (LP03) were interviewed on 1/23/24 by Arkansas PBS for a program on the upcoming 2024 Total Solar Eclipse. The interviews were conducted at the MSFC TV studio, the X-Ray and Cryogenic Facility, and the Stray Light Test Facility. This site visit is part of the MSFC response to the Total Solar Eclipse event and the Heliophysics Big Year.

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marshall space flight center tours

Marshall Space Flight Center: Bus Tour

Temporarily Suspended

marshall space flight center tours

The tour lasts approximately 2 - 2 ½ hours and returns to the main entrance at the Rocket Center.

Tickets must be purchased at the main ticket desk or call 256-721-7114 for pre-paid reservations. Please note that bus tour ticket sales close each day at 12 p.m. CST.

If you or someone in your party requires accommodations for any disability, please contact our guest services staff at (256) 721-7114 in advance. Arrangements can be made to accommodate your request.

Please note that the tour includes multiple stops where guests will be getting off and back on the bus. Bathroom access is limited.

  • All participants must be U.S. citizens
  • Picture I.D. (state issued driver's license or Passport) required for anyone 16 years of age or older.
  • No large bags or backpacks
  • Bags may be subject to inspection
  • No food or drinks
  • Bathrooms are not readily available
  • No weapons allowed
  • No outstanding warrants

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The marshall star for february 21, 2024.

Marshall Center Director Joseph Pelfrey, far right, talks to reporters during his first media event since accepting the director position. The event was held Feb. 15 in the lobby of Building 4221.

Marshall Center Director Holds First Media Event

Pelfrey hosts first 2024 all-hands at marshall, black history month profile: evolving with leslie smith, deputy director of nasa safety center speaker for feb. 22 mission success forum, nasa science aboard intuitive machines continues journey to moon, landing coverage set for feb. 22, rocket propellant tanks for nasa’s artemis iii mission take shape, artemis ii mission manager: matthew ramsey, teams add iconic nasa ‘worm’ logo to artemis ii rocket, spacecraft, chandra: black hole fashions stellar beads on a string, new horizons detects dusty hints of extended kuiper belt.

By Jessica Barnett

NASA Marshall Space Flight Center’s newest center director, Joseph Pelfrey, took to the podium Feb. 15 in the lobby of Building 4221 to host his first media event since his appointment to the position.

Pelfrey, who had been serving as acting center director since August 2023, is the 15th center director for Marshall. He succeeded Jody Singer, who retired in July 2023.

Marshall Center Director Joseph Pelfrey, far right, talks to reporters during his first media event since accepting the director position. The event was held Feb. 15 in the lobby of Building 4221.

Appearing before local news cameras and reporters, Pelfrey said he was humbled and honored to receive the call from NASA Administrator Bill Nelson with news of his selection.

“The agency is committed to Marshall’s role in supporting what we do as a nation in space exploration,” Pelfrey said. “I am honored that they have confidence in me and our team to continue to lead.”

Pelfrey took the opportunity to speak to reporters about upcoming milestones for the center, such as the celebration of 25 years of work with the Chandra X-ray Observatory, Marshall’s 30th year hosting the Human Exploration Rover Challenge, two years since the launches of the James Webb Space Telescope and IXPE (Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer) observatory, and the recent launch of the LN-1 (Lunar Node 1) navigation beacon.

He also discussed the center’s plans to use more of its testing capabilities for habitation systems; build a new Engineering Science Laboratory to replace Building 4487; build the Marshall Exploration Facility where Building 4200 once stood; and continue supporting operations at the International Space Station and for future Artemis missions.

Looking to the future, Pelfrey said Marshall is focused on helping NASA expand its missions in deep space and developing the technologies needed to carry astronauts farther than “we’ve ever been before.”

A child of the shuttle generation, Pelfrey recalled watching launches and dreaming of a career at NASA. He said he’s honored to follow behind great center leaders, continuing Marshall’s legacy as a leader in space exploration.

“As we write the next chapter of our story, I am confident of the bright future we have at Marshall Space Flight Center,” he said.

Barnett, a Media Fusion employee, supports the Marshall Office of Communications.

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By Celine Smith

New NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Director Joseph Pelfrey highlighted the center’s strategy and changing culture during this year’s first all-hands meeting Feb. 8 in Activities Building 4316.

The meeting – with the theme “More to Marshall” – was Pelfrey’s first all-hands since NASA Administrator Bill Nelson named him as the center’s 15th director Feb. 5. Pelfrey had served as acting director since Jody Singer’s retirement in July 2023.

NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Director Joseph Pelfrey, standing, discusses the direction of Marshall and the center’s upcoming projects and strategies during the first all-hands meeting of 2024. Joining him on stage, from left, are Tia Ferguson, Marshall’s Space Systems Department director in the Engineering Directorate, Associate Center Director Rae Ann Meyer, and Mallory James, an aerospace engineer and management assistant in the office of the center director.

Along with Pelfrey, Tia Ferguson, director of Marshall’s Space Systems Department in the Engineering Directorate, Rae Ann Meyer, associate center director, and Mallory James, an aerospace engineer and management assistant in the office of the center director, gave presentations about the direction of Marshall in 2024.

“I see us embracing a transformative shift to a portfolio of more small and medium-sized projects enabled through strategic partnerships while also being a technical solutions provider to NASA and our partners,” Pelfrey said. “I see a very bright future for our center, and I’m excited to write this next chapter with all of you.”

Pelfrey commended Marshall team members for submitting 63 proposals to NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate, all enabled by partnerships. Marshall submitted and won the most proposals out of all NASA centers. He encouraged team members to continue creating and working on more innovative ideas to support future Agency needs.

Pelfrey gave updates on Marshall’s various projects, including Lunar Node-1 using the Huntsville Operation Support Center for its mission and Marshall partnering with the Italian Space Agency to create a multipurpose habitat that could be used on the Moon. The habitat is in the process of becoming a part of the Artemis architecture and would be the first of its kind on the lunar surface.

Pelfrey shared that Marshall and industry partners will be leading the development of the engine in collaboration with the Department of the Defense for NASA and DARPA’s DRACO (Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations) , the first nuclear thermal flight demonstration intended for the mission to Mars. Pelfrey also highlighted the development of the solar sail prototype, which is approximately 4,700 square feet and was recently tested with NASA’s industry partner. The potential for this design has drawn attention from future science missions and the Department of Defense due to its advancements in propulsion.

Pelfrey also mentioned that NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility, which is managed by Marshall, is manufacturing parts for Artemis III-V . Pertaining to the Artemis Mission, Pelfrey said the data from Artemis I is being examined to prepare for Artemis II. Flight software testing has been completed for Artemis II as well. The Human Landing System team is continuing to work with lander partner, SpaceX, which is preparing for the next Starship orbital flight test in the next few weeks.

Brandon Phillips, a material science engineer, asks a question during the Q&A portion of the all-hands meeting.

According to Pelfrey, Marshall is also expecting two new buildings, the Marshall Exploration Facility, which is tentatively scheduled to break ground in 2026, and an Engineering Science Lab, a replacement for Building 4487.

Ferguson followed Pelfrey’s presentation with updates about  NASA 2040 , an agency strategic initiative propelling NASA into the future. The initiative aims to drive meaningful changes in the present to ensure that, in 2040, NASA remains the preeminent institution for research, technology, and engineering, to lead science, aeronautics, and space exploration for humanity. She went into detail about plans made to optimize the internaloperations of the agency and improving the work environment for team members to achieve mission goals.

Meyer discussed how Marshall’s culture reflects the changes and new strategies taking place. Meyer emphasized the investment in centerwide events to strengthen culture at Marshall.

James, a mentee of Meyer, gave the last presentation. She discussed the results of the Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey and how leadership is moving forward to address concerns expressed from the results. 

All-hands ended with a Q&A panel with Pelfrey, Ferguson, Meyer, and James. Larry Leopard, associate director, technical, also joined the panel. They answered questions submitted online and from the audience.

“With our long history of what we’ve done at the center, there’s so much more to Marshall that we can achieve,” Pelfrey said in his closing remarks. “There’s so much more that we can dare to dream and explore and innovate for the agency and there’s more to gain when we do it together.”

Smith, a Media Fusion employee, supports the Marshall Office of Communications.

Ever since Leslie Smith was young, she has liked working with her hands, whether it be arts and crafts or playing the piano. Watching her father weld pieces of scrap metal into something new reinforced her enthusiasm for designing and creating.

While working for NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, Smith has been able to pursue her passion of more tactile work while also gaining an array of other skills.

Leslie Smith

“Helping put the next man and first woman on the Moon gives me a sense of pride, especially because it could help us get to Mars,” said Smith, who is the task manager of the Sustaining Lunar Development program. “I love knowing I’m helping the next generation and just being a part of the program.”

As a young girl, Smith aspired to be an architect, which combined her two favorite skills of designing and building. While in high school, Smith began to co-op at a technical vocational school. Her interest in architecture increased when she was introduced to CAD (computerized-aided design) software in a drafting class.

After Smith started at Tuskegee University, a historically Black university in Alabama, her sights changed. “The architecture class seemed more artsy, and not as focused on design or manufacturing, which is what I really wanted to do,” said Smith, who is from Vicksburg, Mississippi.

She decided to major in mechanical engineering instead. Before graduating, Smith signed an offer for a co-op opportunity with Marshall during a 2008 Tuskegee job fair, leading to her 15-year career at the center.

During Smith’s start, she didn’t get to immediately do the CAD work she originally was drawn to. Smith began working in the Planning and Operations branch within the Mission Ops Lab. She oversaw the countdown timeline for operational tasks and filled out functional objective sheets for the Constellation program’s Ares I. Later, she performed 3D CAD modeling for the main propulsion system and 2D drawings and assemblies for the cryogenic propellant storage and transfer system.

The experience served as Smith’s introduction to program management and systems engineering. While her role was not originally in her area of interest, she found a reason to stay.

“I stayed because of the people,” Smith said. “They were very friendly and helpful. Also, after taking a tour of Marshall, I saw all capabilities of the center. Marshall’s friction stir welding, 3D printing, the propulsion lab, and the diverse types of engineering intrigued me.”

Her first full-time role at Marshall took place after graduating college. She began as a design engineer in the Propulsion Detailed Design branch in 2013. She used her CAD skills to draft a 1 Newton thruster, an adapter for secondary payloads, and a core stage auxiliary power unit among other projects. Smith also did some friction stir welding and additive manufacturing, the processes that interested her during her co-op days. Before becoming a key coordinator for human landing systems, she conducted trade studies for SLS (Space Launch System) components as a systems engineer in 2018. Now, Smith manages human landing system concepts, focused on reducing risk and the advancement of key technologies.

“I’m the kind of person who likes to do something different every so often,” she said. “Technology is always evolving so that makes me want to always evolve.”

Smith’s passion for engineering is present in her personal life. As a member of the National Society of Black Engineers, she took part in the Arusha Project, started at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. Arusha is Swahili for “he makes fly (into the skies).” Smith joined other Black engineers to build a rover for potential Moon and Mars missions. Smith personally worked on the outer shell, window, and chassis.

“The project was great because you got to work with other African American engineers and other ethnicities,” she said. “It’s important to be around people who look like you and can relate to similar issues.” 

In Smith’s free time she volunteers to do STEM outreach. She also enjoys basketball, swimming, and reading. Smith currently lives in Madison, Alabama.

Her advice for young engineers at Marshall is to: “learn all you can. Talk to as many people as you can, particularly people who are different from you for a different perspective. Never pass an opportunity to see hardware. Take all the tours and attend mentoring events.”

First in a two-part series in the Marshall Star highlighting team members during Black History Month.

By Wayne Smith

Bob Conway , deputy director of the NASA Safety Center , will be the guest speaker for the Mission Success Is in Our Hands hybrid Shared Experiences Forum on Feb. 22 at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center.

The 11:30 a.m. event will be in Activities Building 4316 for Marshall team members. Light refreshments will be served. The forum is available to NASA employees and the public virtually via  Teams .

Mission Success with Bob Conway flyer

Mission Success Is in Our Hands is a safety initiative collaboration between NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center and Jacobs Engineering. The initiative’s goal to help team members make meaningful connections between their jobs and the safety and success of NASA and Marshall missions.

The theme of the forum is “The Impact of Breaking the Silence.” Conway will address the elements and factors that can contribute to organizational silence, including the failure to draw attention to problems that can potentially result in mission failures. He will detail practical tactics and tools to help combat this issue and identify methods of creating organizational excellence from the perspectives of both leadership and front-line employees.

Bill Hill, director of Safety and Mission Assurance at Marshall, encourages team members to attend the forum in-person.

“Administrator (Bill) Nelson has requested that all NASA civil servants and contractors hear Bob Conway’s organizational silence briefing and learn tools and techniques to avoid the pitfalls of organizational silence,” Hill said.

Jeff Haars, Jacobs vice president and program manager for Jacobs Space Exploration Group, said the Shared Experiences Forum is an impactful reminder on safety.

“At Jacobs, we put a high priority on safety so it’s very reassuring to have a great safety partner like Marshall,” Haars said. “Working as a team allows us to deliver our work safely while contributing to mission success.”

Conway works with the NASA Safety Center’s director to enable more effective and efficient safety and mission assurance support for NASA’s portfolio of programs and projects by managing the safety center’s activities in knowledge sharing and analysis, technical excellence, and assessments and investigations.

Prior to assuming this role, Conway worked in the civilian sector as the manager of Quality Engineering for Worldwide Safety and Health at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, from 2012 to 2019. Conway was also a member of the NASA Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel from 2012 to 2016. In this role he evaluated various NASA programs and, with his Naval Aviation Safety background, was the lead panel representative to the NASA Aircraft Mission Directorate. After his commissioning as an ensign, Conway served in the U.S. Navy through his retirement in 2012.

As part of the forum, Mission Success Is in Our Hands will present the Golden Eagle Award to a Marshall team member. The award promotes awareness and appreciation for flight safety, as demonstrated through the connections between employees’ everyday work, the success of NASA and Marshall’s missions, and the safety of NASA astronauts. The award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to flight safety and mission assurance above and beyond their normal work requirements. Management or peers can nominate any team member for the award. Honorees are typically recognized at quarterly Shared Experiences forums.

Smith, a Media Fusion employee and the Marshall Star editor, supports the Marshall Office of Communications.

After a  successful launch  Feb. 15, six NASA science instruments and technology demonstrations continue their journey to the Moon aboard Intuitive Machines’ lander named Odysseus. The company confirmed communications contact with its mission operations control in Houston, and its lander continues to perform as expected.

As part of NASA’s CLPS ( Commercial Lunar Payload Services ) initiative and Artemis campaign, Intuitive Machines is targeting no earlier than 4:49 p.m. CST on Feb. 22 to land their Odysseus lunar lander near Malapert A in the South Pole region of the Moon.

marshall space flight center tours

Live landing coverage will air on  NASA+ ,  NASA Television , the  NASA app , and the agency’s  website . NASA TV can be streamed on a variety of platforms, including social media. Coverage will include live streaming and blog updates beginning 3:15 p.m., as the landing milestones occur. Upon successful landing, Intuitive Machines and NASA will host a news conference to discuss the mission and science opportunities that lie ahead as the company begins lunar surface operations.

Known as IM-1, Intuitive Machines successfully transmitted its first images back to Earth on Feb. 16. These were captured shortly after separation from SpaceX’s second stage, on Intuitive Machines’ first journey to the Moon.

Within an hour of launching, NASA confirmed data was streaming from the agency’s powered science and technology instruments aboard the flight. This means data from these instruments was automatically streaming back to the teams so NASA could monitor the health and status of its instruments.

Later, Intuitive Machines successfully commissioned Odysseus’ engine which means they exercised the engine’s complete flight profile, including the throttling required for landing. The engine, which uses liquid methane and liquid oxygen, is the first of its kind fired in space.

One of the NASA instruments, the  Radio Frequency Mass Gauge  is gauging the cryogenic propellants on Odysseus throughout the mission. Data files have been collected and many have been downloaded for analysis. Throughout the propellant loading phase that took place before launch, the instrument collected data, which was downloaded and analyzed in near-real time. Data also is being collected during the microgravity transit phase of the mission. This analysis will continue through landing on the Moon.

Another NASA instrument,  Lunar Node-1 , or LN-1, integrates navigation and communication . LN-1 was developed, built, and tested at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. This science instrument will operate daily during the cruise phase as the landing date draws closer. The radio beacon is designed to support precise geolocation and navigation observations to orbiters, landers, and surface personnel, digitally confirming their positions on the Moon relative to other craft, ground stations, or rovers on the move. The check-out helps prepare to land on the Moon as the navigation demonstrator aims to gather this data throughout the duration of the surface operations phase of the mission. Flight controllers will analyze the data from this procedure to inform preparations for landing Feb. 22.

Follow the  Artemis blog  for updates, or follow along with  Intuitive Machines  for the latest operational updates on their mission.

With the liquid oxygen tank now fully welded, all the major structures that will form the core stage for NASA’s SLS (Space Launch System) rocket for the agency’s  Artemis III  mission are ready for additional outfitting.

The hardware will be a part of the rocket used for the first of the Artemis missions planning to land astronauts on the Moon’s surface near the lunar South Pole. Technicians  finished welding  the 51-foot liquid oxygen tank structure inside the Vertical Assembly Building at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility on Jan. 8.

All the major structures that will form the core stage for NASA’s SLS (Space Launch System) rocket for the agency’s Artemis III mission are structurally complete. Technicians finished welding the 51-foot liquid oxygen tank structure, left, inside the Vertical Assembly Building at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans Jan. 8. The liquid hydrogen tank, right, completed internal cleaning Nov. 14.

The mega rocket’s other giant propellant tank – the liquid hydrogen tank – is already one fully welded structure. NASA and Boeing, the SLS core stage lead contractor, are currently priming the tank in another cell within the Vertical Assembly Building area called the Building 131 cryogenic tank thermal protection system and primer application complex. It completed internal cleaning Nov. 14.

Manufacturing hardware is a multi-step process that includes welding, washing, and, later, outfitting hardware. The internal cleaning process is similar to a shower to ensure contaminants do not find their way into the stage’s complex propulsion and engine systems prior to priming. Once internal cleaning is complete, primer is applied to the external portions of the tank’s barrel section and domes by an automated robotic tool. Following primer, technicians apply a foam-based thermal protection system to shield it from the extreme temperatures it will face during launch and flight while also regulating the super-chilled propellant within.

“NASA and its partners are processing major hardware elements at Michoud for several SLS rockets in parallel to support the agency’s Artemis campaign,” said Chad Bryant, acting manager of the Stages Office for NASA’s SLS Program. “With the Artemis II core stage nearing completion, the major structural elements of the SLS core stage for Artemis III will advance through production on the factory floor.”

The two massive propellant tanks for the rocket collectively hold more than 733,000 gallons of super-chilled propellant. The propellant powers the four RS-25 engines and must stay extremely cold to remain liquid.

The core stage, along with the RS-25 engines, will produce two million pounds of thrust to help launch NASA’s Orion spacecraft, astronauts, and supplies beyond Earth’s orbit and to the lunar surface for Artemis III. SLS is the only rocket that can send Orion, astronauts, and supplies to the Moon in a single launch.

Through Artemis, NASA will send astronauts – including the first woman, first person of color, and first international partner astronaut – to explore the Moon for scientific discovery, economic benefits, and to build the foundation for crewed mission to Mars. SLS is part of NASA’s backbone for deep space exploration, along with the Orion spacecraft, exploration ground systems, advanced spacesuits and rovers, Gateway, and human landing systems.

NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center manages the SLS Program and Michoud Assembly Facility.

Matthew Ramsey is keenly aware of the responsibility he shoulders to ensure NASA’s missions to the Moon are safe and successful. As the mission manager for  Artemis II , NASA’s first crewed mission under Artemis, Ramsey is charged with helping to define the requirements and priorities for the missions and certifying that the hardware and operations needed to support flight are ready.

“For me, it’s all about the crew and ensuring their safety as they venture to the Moon and come home,” Ramsey said. “Sending people thousands of miles from home and doing it in a way that sets the stage for long-term exploration and scientific discovery is an incredibly complex task.”

Matthew Ramsey poses for a photo in front of a model of the SLS rocket. He is wearing a grey suit, light blue shift and a red and black patterned tie.

During the leadup to Artemis II, Ramsey is responsible for oversight of the daily preparations as NASA prepares to launch and fly the agency’s  SLS  (Space Launch System) rocket with a crew of four inside the  Orion  spacecraft. He will adjudicate issues that arise in the weeks and months ahead of the flight test and serve as deputy of the Mission Management Team – a tiger team that forms two days before launch to accept the risks associated with the mission and make decisions during the flight to address any changes or concerns.

A native of Hernando, Mississippi, Ramsey pitched for the Mississippi State University baseball team before earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in aerospace engineering from the school.

“There are a lot of similarities between mission management and pitching,” he said. “You control many aspects of the tempo, and there’s a lot of weight on your shoulders.”

Ramsey began his career in the intelligence and defense sectors before joining the space agency in 2002 to work on guidance, navigation, and control for the X-37 Approach and Landing Test Vehicle. Later, he worked on the design of the Ares I and V rockets as part of NASA’s Constellation Program before transitioning in 2010 to the SLS Program in support of the chief engineer at the agency’s Marshall Space Flight Center.

During the Artemis I launch, Ramsey was the SLS Engineering Support Center manager at Marshall, coordinating across engineering teams to provide data and solutions to issues encountered during the multiple launch attempts. He then supported the Mission Management Team during Artemis I in an observational role, preparing for his position as Artemis II mission manager.

While NASA and its partners are preparing for Artemis II, work toward other Artemis missions is also underway. Ramsey also will serve as the mission manager for Artemis IV, the first Gateway assembly mission that also will include a lunar landing.

“With Artemis II on the horizon, most of my time is focused on making sure we’re ready to fly  Reid, Victor, Christina, and Jeremy  around the Moon and bring them safely home,” Ramsey said. “For Artemis IV, we’re in the mission concept-planning phase, establishing mission priorities and objectives and defining how we’ll transfer crew between all the hardware elements involved.”

As Artemis II nears, Ramsey is blending his operational experience and expertise in design, development, testing, and evaluation so that NASA is primed for what lies ahead: sending humans back to the Moon for the first time in more than 50 years and laying the foundation for future missions that will ultimately enable human exploration of Mars.

Art and science merged as teams added the NASA “worm” logo on the  SLS (Space Launch System)  solid rocket boosters and the  Orion spacecraft’s  crew module adapter at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center for the agency’s  Artemis  II mission.

The  iconic logo  was introduced in 1975 by the firm of Danne & Blackburn as a modern emblem for the agency. It emerged from a nearly 30-year retirement in 2020 for limited use on select missions and products.

A red NASA "worm" logo is being painted by a person in a bucket event on a solid rocket booster segment inside a building

NASA’s  Exploration Ground Systems  and prime contractor Jacobs began painting the red logotype onto the segments that form the Moon rocket’s two solid rocket boosters Jan. 22. To do so, crews used a laser projector to first mark off the location of the logo with tape, then applied two coats of paint and finished by adding several coats of clear primer. Each letter of the worm logo measures approximately 6 feet and 10 inches in height and altogether, stretches 25 feet from end to end, or a little less than the length of one of the rocket’s booster motor segments.

The location of the worm logo will be moderately different from where it was during Artemis I. While it will still be located on each of the rocket’s 17 story boosters, the modernist logo will be placed toward the front of the booster systems tunnel cover. The SLS boosters are the largest, most powerful solid propellant boosters ever flown and provide more than 75% of the thrust at launch.

The Orion spacecraft for NASA's Artemis II now has a NASA "worm" logo.

Around the corner inside the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at Kennedy, personnel adhered the worm logo and ESA (European Space Agency) insignia Jan. 28 on the spacecraft’s crew module adapter. The adapter houses electronic equipment for communications, power, and control, and includes an umbilical connector that bridges the electrical, data, and fluid systems between the main modules.

In October 2023, technicians joined the crew and service modules together. The crew module will house the four astronauts as they journey around the Moon and back to Earth on an approximately 10-day journey. The spacecraft’s service module, provided by ESA, will supply the vehicle with electricity, propulsion, thermal control, air, and water in space.

NASA is working to land the first woman, first person of color, and first international partner astronaut on the Moon through Artemis. SLS and the Orion spacecraft are central to NASA’s deep space exploration plans, along with advanced spacesuits and rovers, the Gateway space station planned for orbit around the Moon, and commercial human landing systems.

NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center manages the SLS Program.

Astronomers have discovered one of the most powerful eruptions from a  black hole  ever recorded in the system known as SDSS J1531+3414 (SDSS J1531 for short). This mega-explosion billions of years ago may help explain the formation of a striking pattern of star clusters around two massive galaxies, resembling “beads on a string.”

SDSS J1531 is a massive  galaxy cluster  containing hundreds of individual galaxies and huge reservoirs of hot gas and dark matter. At the center of SDSS J1531, which is located about 3.8 billion light-years away, two of the cluster’s largest galaxies are colliding with each other.

Galaxy cluster SDSS J1531+3414

Astronomers used several telescopes to study SDSS J1531 including  NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory , and LOFAR (Low Frequency Array), a radio telescope. A composite image shows SDSS J1531 in X-rays from Chandra (blue and purple) that have been combined with radio data from LOFAR (dark pink) as well as an optical image from the Hubble Space Telescope (appearing as yellow and white). The inset gives a close-in view of the center of SDSS J1531 in optical light, showing the two large galaxies and a set of 19 large clusters of stars, called superclusters, stretching across the middle. The image shows these star clusters are arranged in an ‘S’ formation that resembles beads on a string.

The multiwavelength data provides signs of an ancient, titanic eruption in SDSS J1531, which a team of researchers think was responsible for creation of the 19 star clusters. Their argument is that an extremely powerful jet from the  supermassive black holes  in the center of one of the large galaxies pushed the surrounding hot gas away from the black hole, creating a gigantic cavity. The evidence for a cavity comes from “wings” of bright X-ray emission, seen with Chandra, tracing dense gas near the center of SDSS J1531. These wings are the edge of the cavity and the less dense gas in between is part of the cavity. LOFAR shows radio waves from the remains of the jet’s energetic particles filling in the giant cavity. These features are highlighted in a labeled version of the image.

Multiwavelength Image of SDSS J1531, Labeled

The astronomers also discovered cold and warm gas located near the opening of the cavity, detected with the Atacama Large Millimeter and submillimeter Array and the Gemini North Telescope, respectively. A separate graphic shows the optical image with the cold gas added in green (left), and the warm gas added in red (right). The team argues that some of the hot gas pushed away from the black hole eventually cooled to form the cold and warm gas shown. The team thinks tidal effects from the two merging galaxies compressed the gas along curved paths, leading to the star clusters forming in the “beads on a string” pattern.

A paper led by Osase Omoruyi of the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian (CfA) describing these results has recently been published in The Astrophysical Journal and is  available online here . The authors of the paper are Grant Tremblay (CfA), Francoise Combes (Paris Observatory, France), Timothy Davis (Cardiff University, UK), Michael Gladders (University of Chicago), Alexey Vikhlinin (CfA), Paul Nulsen (CfA), Preeti Kharb (National Centre for Radio Astrophysics – Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, India), Stefi Baum (University of Manitoba, Canada), Christopher O’Dea (University of Manitoba, Canada), Keren Sharon (University of Michigan), Bryan Terrazas (Columbia University), Rebecca Nevin (Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory), Aimee Schechter (University of Colorado Boulder), John ZuHone (CfA), Michael McDonald (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), Hakon Dahle (University of Oslo, Norway), Matthew B. Bayliss (University of Cincinnati), Thomas Connor (CfA), Michael Florian (University of Arizona), Jane Rigby (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center), and Sravani Vaddi (Arecibo Observatory).

NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center manages the Chandra program. The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory’s Chandra X-ray Center controls science operations from Cambridge, Massachusetts, and flight operations from Burlington, Massachusetts.

New observations from NASA’s  New Horizons  spacecraft hint that the Kuiper Belt – the vast, distant outer zone of our solar system populated by hundreds of thousands of icy, rocky planetary building blocks – might stretch much farther out than we thought.

Speeding through the outer edges of the Kuiper Belt, almost 60 times farther from the Sun than Earth, the New Horizons SDC ( Venetia Burney Student Dust Counter ) instrument is detecting higher than expected levels of dust – the tiny frozen remnants of collisions between larger Kuiper Belt objects, or KBOs, and particles kicked up from KBOs being peppered by microscopic dust impactors from outside of the solar system.

Artist’s concept of a collision between two objects in the distant Kuiper Belt

The readings defy scientific models that the KBO population and density of dust should start to decline a billion miles inside that distance and contribute to a growing body of evidence that suggests the outer edge of the main Kuiper Belt could extend billions of miles farther than current estimates – or that there could even be a second belt beyond the one we already know.

The results appear in the Feb. 1 issue of the  Astrophysical Journal Letters .

“New Horizons is making the first direct measurements of interplanetary dust far beyond Neptune and Pluto, so every observation could lead to a discovery,” said Alex Doner, lead author of the paper and a physics graduate student at the University of Colorado Boulder who serves as SDC lead. “The idea that we might have detected an extended Kuiper Belt – with a whole new population of objects colliding and producing more dust – offers another clue in solving the mysteries of the solar system’s most distant regions.”

Designed and built by students at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) at the University of Colorado Boulder under the guidance of professional engineers, SDC has detected microscopic dust grains produced by collisions among asteroids, comets and Kuiper Belt objects all along New Horizons’ 5-billion-mile, 18-year journey across our solar system – which after launch in 2006 included historic flybys of Pluto in 2015 and the KBO Arrokoth in 2019. The first science instrument on a NASA planetary mission to be designed, built and “flown” by students, the SDC counts and measures the sizes of dust particles, producing information on the collision rates of such bodies in the outer solar system.

The latest, surprising results were compiled over three years as New Horizons traveled from 45 to 55 AU (astronomical units from the Sun – with one AU being the distance between Earth and Sun, about 93 million miles.

These readings come as New Horizons scientists, using observatories like the Japanese Subaru Telescope in Hawaii, have also discovered a number KBOs far beyond the traditional outer edge of the Kuiper Belt. This outer edge (where the density of objects starts to decline) was thought to be at about 50 AU, but new evidence suggests the belt may extend to 80 AU, or farther. 

As telescope observations continue, Doner said, scientists are looking at other possible reasons for the high SDC dust readings. One possibility, perhaps less likely, is radiation pressure and other factors pushing dust created in the inner Kuiper Belt out past 50 AU. New Horizons could also have encountered shorter-lived ice particles that cannot reach the inner parts of the solar system and were not yet accounted for in the current models of the Kuiper Belt.

“These new scientific results from New Horizons may be the first time that any spacecraft has discovered a new population of bodies in our solar system,” said Alan Stern, New Horizons principal investigator from the Southwest Research Institute in Boulder. “I can’t wait to see how much farther out these elevated Kuiper Belt dust levels go.”

Now into its second extended mission, New Horizons is expected to have sufficient propellant and power to operate through the 2040s, at distances beyond 100 AU from the Sun. That far out, mission scientists say, the SDC could potentially even record the spacecraft’s transition into a region where interstellar particles dominate the dust environment. With complementary telescopic observations of the Kuiper Belt from Earth, New Horizons, as the only spacecraft operating in and collecting new information about the Kuiper Belt, has a unique opportunity to learn more about KBOs, dust sources and expanse of the belt, and interstellar dust and the dust disks around other stars.

The Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland, built and operates the New Horizons spacecraft and manages the mission for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate. Southwest Research Institute, based in San Antonio and Boulder, Colorado, directs the mission via Principal Investigator Alan Stern and leads the science team, payload operations and encounter science planning. New Horizons is part of NASA’s New Frontiers Program, managed by NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center.

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  1. Marshall Space Flight Center: A tour through NASA's hidden gem

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  2. Space museum tours of Marshall Space Flight Center to help "showcase

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  3. How to Visit NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center ⋆ Space Tourism Guide

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  4. How to Visit NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center ⋆ Space Tourism Guide

    marshall space flight center tours

  5. How to Visit NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center ⋆ Space Tourism Guide

    marshall space flight center tours

  6. Marshall Space Flight Center: A tour through NASA's hidden gem

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COMMENTS

  1. Visit Marshall Space Flight Center

    Visitors will learn how Marshall develops, integrates and manages complex space systems and scientific research projects that continue to yield exciting and innovative scientific discoveries. The Marshall Space Flight Center bus tour is temporarily suspended. U.S. Space & Rocket Center bus tours of Marshall are $20 for guests ages 5 and up ...

  2. Marshall Space Flight Center

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  3. How to Visit NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center

    NASA Marshall Space Flight Center is located in Huntsville, Alabama. Huntsville is in northern Alabama near the Tennessee border. To get to Huntsville from Birmingham, AL, it's a 90-minute drive. If you want to fly into another major city, it's a 2-hour drive from Nashville or a 3-hour drive from Atlanta to Huntsville.

  4. General Admission Tickets

    U.S. Space & Rocket Center. The U.S. Space & Rocket Center is a Smithsonian Affiliate, the Official Visitor Center for NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, and the home of Space Camp. We have one of the largest collections of rockets and space memorabilia on display anywhere in the world. Open daily, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

  5. How To Visit NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center

    Marshall Space Flight Center is located on the U.S. Army's Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama. To get to Redstone Arsenal's Gate 9 Visitor Center by car from Huntsville International Airport, just follow the signs along Houston Goodson Way and Glenn Hearn Boulevard to I-565 East. At Exit 14, turn right onto ramp AL-255 on Rideout Road ...

  6. Saturn V Hall Guided Tours

    The hall showcases NASA and Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) contributions to historic, current and future space exploration. Guided tours available daily at 10am, 12pm, 1:30pm, 3:30pm. Emeritus Docents Schedule is subject to change due to availability. NASA Marshall Space Flight (MSFC) and military retirees share their passion and knowledge ...

  7. NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center: A hub for historic and modern-day

    A technician works on a model of LAGEOS, a 900-pound (408-kg) satellite developed at Marshall Space Flight Center and launched into orbit in 1976. (Image credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center)

  8. BUS TOUR: Marshall Space Flight Center (suspended)

    The tour lasts approximately 2 - 2 ½ hours and returns to the main entrance at the Rocket Center. Marshall Space Flight Center Bus Tour tickets are sold separately from museum tickets. Tickets must be purchased at the main ticket desk or call 256-721-7114 for pre-paid reservations. Please note that bus tour ticket sales close each day at 12 p ...

  9. Marshall Space Flight Center: A tour through NASA's hidden gem

    Marshall Space Flight Center: A tour through NASA's hidden gem. One of NASA's more off-the-radar facilities is responsible for some of the organization's most important research. Kennedy Space ...

  10. Marshall Space Flight Center

    The George C. Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC), located in Redstone Arsenal, Alabama (Huntsville postal address), is the U.S. government's civilian rocketry and spacecraft propulsion research center. As the largest NASA center, MSFC's first mission was developing the Saturn launch vehicles for the Apollo program.Marshall has been the lead center for the Space Shuttle main propulsion and ...

  11. NASA Centers to Visit for an Out of This World Vacation

    The Rocket Center offers bus tours of the Marshall Space Flight Center that includes multiple stops in the facility. Tickets for the tour are $20 for visitors ages 5 and up. Tour buses depart the ...

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    This is an incredible tour to see everything that goes into launching the world's most powerful rocket that will be launching into deep space in 2019. If you would like more information or keep up to date with the progress on SLS, click on the link to on Marshall Space Flight Center. If you would like to see more things to do in Huntsville ...

  13. Facts and Stats

    Marshall also manages the Michoud Assembly Facility, where the core stage of SLS is under construction. The USSRC is home to Space Camp®, Aviation Challenge®, Space Camp® Robotics and U.S. Cyber Camp. The USSRC offers bus tours of the Marshall Space Flight Center. The USSRC is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution.

  14. Marshall Space Flight Center to Offer 'State of NASA' Media Tour Feb. 2

    Media are invited to attend a tour Feb. 2 of Marshall Space Flight Center programs and projects contributing to NASA's mission of space exploration and steps. ... Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala. 256-544-0034 [email protected]. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

  15. Rocketcenter Programs

    The U.S. Space & Rocket Center is a Smithsonian Affiliate, the Official Visitor Center for NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, and the home of Space Camp. We have one of the largest collections of rockets and space memorabilia on display anywhere in the world. Open daily, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day ...

  16. NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center

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  17. Marshall Space Flight Center Tour

    This trip will begin with a bus trip from the U.S. Space & Rocket Center for a tour of the MSFC facilities, including the Propulsion Research & Development Laboratory. Participants will visit the Redstone Test Stand, a National Historic Landmark, where static tests of the Juno 1 and ... Marshall Space Flight Center Tour. Calendar. When: May 26 ...

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  19. Marshall Space Flight Center: Bus Tour

    The Marshall Space Flight Center bus tour is temporarily suspended due to worldwide health concerns associated with the COVID-19 virus. U.S. Space & Rocket Center One Tranquility Base Huntsville, AL 35805 (256) 837-3400. 1-800-637-7223. Have a question about the U.S. Space & Rocket

  20. Marshall Space Flight Center Exhibits

    Marshall Space Flight Center Exhibits Manager. [email protected]. 256-544-0034. NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, manages an active traveling exhibits program, sharing the agency's endeavors in an effort to attract and inspire America's next generation of scientists, engineers and explorers.

  21. Arkansas PBS Explores Marshall Space Flight Center For Upcoming ...

    In preparation for the highly anticipated 2024 Total Solar Eclipse, Arkansas PBS has visited the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) and engaged with a group of esteemed experts for a forthcoming ...

  22. Arkansas PBS Site Visit to Marshall Space Flight Center

    Arkansas PBS Site Visit to Marshall Space Flight Center. February 28, 2024 February 28, 2024 / Heliophysics and Planetary Science. Robert Loper, Mitzi Adams, and Adam Kobelski (ST13) and Joseph Matus (LP03) were interviewed on 1/23/24 by Arkansas PBS for a program on the upcoming 2024 Total Solar Eclipse. The interviews were conducted at the ...

  23. The Marshall Star for February 28, 2024

    A flag for Crew-8 was raised Feb. 28 at the HOSC (Huntsville Operation Support Center) at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center. The HOSC is a multi-mission facility that provides engineering and mission operations support for NASA's Commercial Crew Program, Space Launch System rocket, Artemis lunar science missions, and science conducted on ...

  24. Recent Activities of the Marshall Space Flight Center Natural

    Frank B Leahy (Marshall Space Flight Center Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, United States) Date Acquired. April 5, 2022 . Subject Category. Meteorology And Climatology. Meeting Information. Meeting: Spring 2022 Natural Environments Day of Launch Working Group . Location: Kennedy Space Center .

  25. Marshall Space Flight Center: Bus Tour

    The Marshall Space Flight Center bus tour is temporarily suspended due to worldwide health concerns associated with the COVID-19 virus. U.S. Space & Rocket Center One Tranquility Base Huntsville, AL 35805 (256) 837-3400. 1-800-637-7223. Have a question about the U.S. Space & Rocket

  26. The Marshall Star for January 17, 2024

    Several guest speakers took to the stage Jan. 11 at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center to share how Martin Luther King Jr.'s life and legacy impacted them personally, as well as how others can continue his legacy by being like King today. Pictured here, from left, are Tora Henry, director of Marshall's Office of Diversity and Equal ...

  27. The Marshall Star for February 21, 2024

    By Jessica Barnett. NASA Marshall Space Flight Center's newest center director, Joseph Pelfrey, took to the podium Feb. 15 in the lobby of Building 4221 to host his first media event since his appointment to the position. Pelfrey, who had been serving as acting center director since August 2023, is the 15th center director for Marshall.