Space Center Houston gives sightseers a behind-the-curtain view of parts of the facility not accessible to the public. The Level 9 Tour is an exclusive, behind-the-scenes trek around NASA that lasts approximately five hours. The tour guide pilots visitors through nine different sites, including the Historic Mission Control Center, the Neutral Buoyancy Lab, Space Environment Simulation Lab and even allows some access to the current Mission Control Center. The Level 9 Tour includes two-day admission to Space Center Houston and a free hot lunch during the tour, during which visitors eat in the same cafeteria with NASA technicians and astronauts. The tour is scheduled to begin at 11:45 a.m., Monday through Friday, and is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Reservations must be made by phone or online a day prior to your arrival, and only 12 twelve admissions are allowed daily. Participants must be age 14 or older.
The NASA Tram tour gives an exclusive look into a designated working area of the Johnson Space Center. The guided tour visits the current Mission Control Center, the Space Vehicle Mock-Up Facility or the Historic Mission Control Center by tram. The tour lasts roughly 90 minutes and may stop at other sites in the center, including the Saturn V Complex at Rocket Park and the Neutral Buoyancy Lab. Guests may also get the opportunity to catch a glimpse of astronauts training for upcoming assignments. Access to participate in the NASA Tram Tour is included with the purchase of a general admission ticket.
The Astronaut Audio tour is designed to guide and educate visitors through the many exhibits in Space Center Houston. The audio tour aims to provide visitors with a perspective on each exhibit from chief space pioneers. It is guided by several astronauts, include John Glenn, Alan Bean, Shannon Lucid, and Eileen Collins. Each guest is provided with a player keypad and has the option to choose from a variety of audio tours with the touch of a button. Astronaut Audio Tours are available for adults and for children as well as in Spanish. Topics covered by the audio tours range from Gene Cernan discussing the Apollo 17 Capsule to Eileen Collins in the Space Shuttle Cockpit mock-up.
