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Humans in Space

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NASA’s Hubble, Webb Probe Surprisingly Smooth Disk Around Vega

What’s Up: November 2024 Skywatching Tips from NASA

Why NASA’s SPHEREx Mission Will Make ‘Most Colorful’ Cosmic Map Ever

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‘Blood-Soaked’ Eyes: NASA’s Webb, Hubble Examine Galaxy Pair

NASA astronaut Serena Auñón-Chancellor provides a saliva sample on the International Space Station. Her sample will be used to measure stress hormones and other biomarkers of health that can reveal how her immune system changes in space.

Research Operations and Integration

We Are All Made of Cells: Space and the Immune System

Exterior view of the International Space Station with Earth visible in the background. The station’s robotic arm and multiple scientific equipment modules are attached to its surface.

Station Science Top News: Oct. 25, 2024

International SWOT Satellite Spots Planet-Rumbling Greenland Tsunami

Map shows orange and red colors spanning most of Antarctica and part of the Southern Ocean, indicating areas of low ozone concentrations.

NASA, NOAA Rank 2024 Ozone Hole as 7th-Smallest Since Recovery Began

INjected Smoke and PYRocumulonimbus Experiment Expressions of Interest for No-Cost Participation / Contributions and Clarification of A.61 INSPYRE ST.

NASA’s New Edition of Graphic Novel Features Europa Clipper

30 Years On, NASA’s Wind Is a Windfall for Studying our Neighborhood in Space

Exoasteroids

Title slide for Meet the Authors. Image shows the three participating authors with meeting information.

Meet the Authors – October 2024

NASA and Partners Scaling to New Heights in Air Traffic Management

Two NASA test pilots walk toward the camera. Behind them is a blue and white F/A-18 research jet.

NASA Pilots Add Perspective to Research

A man wearing a gray NASA shirt posing to the left of a subscale model or an aircraft that is orange and white with the NASA meatball on it. In the background, there are aviation posters located on the wall and another subscale model on display that is yellow and red.

NASA Spotlight: Felipe Valdez, an Inspiring Engineer

A screenshot of visual inspection software showing a prepared meal, highlighting green beans.

From Mars Rovers to Factory Assembly Lines

Mario Perez, back, holds a deployable solar panel as Craig Turczynski, left, secures it to the Advanced Composite Solar Sail System (ACS3) spacecraft in the Integration Facility of NASA Ames Research Center.

NASA Technologies Named Among TIME Inventions of 2024

After 60 Years, Nuclear Power for Spaceflight is Still Tried and True

Three students standing next to an Artemis tree with a bulletin board in the background that reads NASA STEM Artemis Moon Trees

Artemis I Moon Tree Stewards

Watch How Students Help NASA Grow Plants in Space: Growing Beyond Earth

Kites in the Classroom: Training Teachers to Conduct Remote Sensing Missions

A view of the front of a bustling event tent outfitted with NASA flags and insignia. The tent is centered in the photo and sits atop a concrete airfield, where many people are walking in and out of the tent. A grey-white overcast sky is behind and above the tent.

La NASA lleva un dron y un rover espacial a un espectáculo aéreo

Destacado de la nasa: felipe valdez, un ingeniero inspirador.

A man wearing clear glasses is standing to the left of the image wearing a gray shirt and tan pants. His right arm is touching a cart holding technical instruments including two solar panels sticking out from each side. There are several other people surrounding him.

Sacrificio y Éxito: Ingeniero de la NASA honra sus orígenes familiares

A group of people looks are equipment during a tour at Goddard.

Onsite Field Trips & Facility Tours

Activities, exhibits and events at the Goddard Visitor Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, provide inspiring and captivating educational experiences for all ages. The visitor center showcases Goddard’s innovative and exciting work in Earth science, astrophysics, heliophysics, planetary science, engineering, communications and technology development.

Onsite Programs

Onsite in-person programs are presently available to school, community and cultural groups Tuesday through Friday with prior reservation. Groups must have a minimum of eight people and should not exceed 40 people. To schedule a field trip, or if you need assistance, email [email protected] or call 301-286-3978.

The Goddard Visitor Center asks that groups interested in scheduling a facility tour or program make a reservation at least one month in advance. Currently, security regulations do not permit “drop-in” facility tours by the public.

Current program options are as follows:

Living and Working in Space, Kindergarten – 4th Grade People are living and working in space right now! Participants will discover many of the different ways that scientists, engineers and astronauts have developed to help humans live in space. They will also learn about the parts of an astronaut’s spacesuit and then look at actual food items sent to the International Space Station. This program includes a short Goddard Intro theater presentation and a live interactive presentation with a question-and-answer session. Time can be made either before or after (schedule depending) to explore exhibits.
Engineering Satellites, 5th – 8th Grade Building a satellite takes many steps, requires help from a team, and needs creativity and innovation to make things work. Participants will explore the engineering design process and how scientists and engineers at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center use it to solve problems. They will also talk about tools and components of a satellite with demonstrations focusing on infrared light. This program includes a short Goddard Intro theater presentation and a live interactive presentation with a question-and-answer session. Time can be made either before or after (schedule depending) to explore exhibits.

Custom programs may be offered based on availability.

Onsite programs are only available Tuesday through Friday, at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., with an advance reservation. Weekend tours and programs are not available.

Facility Tours

Facility tours are presently available to school, community and cultural groups. Groups must have a minimum of eight people (this number includes chaperones for a student tour, for example). Group size is recommended to not exceed 25, as spaces for larger groups of up to 50 are limited. Tour participants must be at least 10 years old or in the fifth grade. Depending on which areas are available that day, facility tours visit satellite construction, testing and operations areas. Facility tours are two hours long and also include a guided presentation in the visitor center theater.

Visiting groups should plan to provide transportation (buses/vans) to and from the Visitor Center and the facility buildings. Small groups should plan on providing one large vehicle that holds the entire group plus the tour guide. Free parking is available.

Facility tours, like other onsite programs, are only available Tuesday through Friday, at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., with an advance reservation. Weekend tours and programs are not available. To schedule a facility tour, or if you need assistance, email [email protected] or call 301-286-3978.

Families and small groups wishing to visit the visitor center and explore the exhibit gallery and rocket garden on their own do not need to make reservations.

Foreign nationals from most countries can participate in a facility tour. Security regulations require that the full names, dates of birth, country of origin, passport numbers and passport expiration dates for each foreign national in your group be submitted at least two weeks prior to your scheduled visit. Foreign nationals who do not provide this information in advance will not be permitted on the tour.

The visitor center has no cafeteria, but guests are welcome to bring their own food and eat at any of the picnic tables on the visitor center grounds. There are several restaurants and other food options nearby on Greenbelt Road. Guests may not bring alcohol onto visitor center grounds. Please note that there is no food or drink permitted inside the visitor center .