Embark on a fascinating voyage, unraveling the incredible tale behind the arrival of this pristine celestial piece. This sample is more than a mere rock–it’s a guardian of secrets about our origins and solar system waiting to be unveiled.

We have prepared some stellar surprises for our explorers to celebrate the arrival of this remarkable sample from the OSIRIS-REx mission. The first 200 visitors will receive a 3-D printed Bennu model as a commemorative keepsake. 

Can’t attend but still want a piece of space history? If you have access to 3-D printers, Space Center Houston has provided the file to craft your Bennu model!

Sign up below to receive the news of when this amazing sample arrives!

The post Houston, We Have a Sample! Make Your Own Bennu appeared first on Space Center Houston.

An International Landmark | NASA 905 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft
As you arrive at Space Center Houston, you will see what can be considered our unofficial welcome sign in the form of the historic NASA 905 shuttle carrier aircraft. They say everything is bigger in Texas; this colossal Boeing 747 is a prime example. This remodeled aircraft is the largest intact artifact from the shuttle program. It played a vital role in the orbiter’s development, helping to usher in a new era of space exploration.

The Falcon Has Landed | SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket
Prepare to be amazed by the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, a true game-changer in space exploration. With its groundbreaking reusable design and cost efficiency, this rocket was pivotal in sending astronauts to the International Space Station. The burn marks and wear on the outside of this flown rocket serve as visible proof of its multiple journeys to space.

Vest of the Best | Gene Kranz Apollo 17 Vest
Would you swap your lucky four-leaf clover for a handmade vest? After learning about the remarkable career and successful track record of legendary flight director Gene Kranz, you might want to consider it. Behold the dazzling vest dawned by Kranz while he led the Apollo 17 mission. Marta, Kranz’s wife, handmade all his vests for good luck during his mission. She started making vests during the Gemini 4 era, which became a tradition.

Setting the Stage | John F. Kennedy Lectern
Take in the gravity of the John F. Kennedy lectern! The piece set the stage for several prominent historical figures, including presidents, vice presidents, and NASA administrators and was used to deliver the iconic “moonshot” speech at Rice University.

Fitting a Square Peg in a Round Hole | Apollo 13 Lithium Hydroxide Canister Prototype
See the puzzle piece that transformed the Apollo 13 mission from a failed moon landing into a demonstration of teamwork and a defining moment for NASA. The key was a lithium hydroxide canister, a product of ingenuity that NASA engineers created to adapt a square CO2 filter from the command module to fit the round system of the lunar module after an accident. This canister helped ensure the safe return of astronauts Jim Lovell, Jack Swigert, and Fred Haise.

These artifacts are only a few authentic pieces of space history that Space Center Houston offers to illustrate unique facets of our celestial journey. Visit us to see more genuine pieces of space history from NASA’s early days to the current era of commercial space exploration at spacecenter.org/tickets.

The post 5 Space History Artifacts to See During Your Visit appeared first on Space Center Houston.

On September 12, 2023, the sixty-first anniversary of John F. Kennedy’s historic “moonshot” speech, the iconic lectern from which he delivered those inspiring words was placed back on permanent exhibit in a prominent new location at Space Center Houston. We invite you to visit Space Center Houston to step closer to a defining moment in human space exploration and be inspired by the legacy of those who dared to reach for the Moon.

Learn more about this important artifact in space history at https://spacecenter.org/lectern

The post VIDEO | The John F. Kennedy Lectern appeared first on Space Center Houston.

Travel though space history in our Starship Gallery timeline and see a new artifact – Gene Kranz’s Mug.

Flight controllers gave this custom mug to Flight Director Gene Kranz after a flu outbreak among his Mission Control team in the mid-1960’s. They jokingly called him “Flu FD,” short for “flu flight director.”

This personal item was on Kranz’s Mission Control console during the Apollo 11 & 13 missions. It’s currently on loan to the center from Catherine Colella in honor of Frances “Poppy” Northcutt, who was the first female engineer to work in Mission Control.

Kranz’s legacy

Gene Kranz is as legendary a figure at NASA Johnson Space Center as anyone, which is noteworthy since he never flew into space. His cool, decisive leadership kept his Mission Control teams on course and performing at a high level while keeping NASA’s astronauts safe.

To that end, Kranz’s position in history was honored recently by the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum. The museum awarded Kranz its 2021 Michael Collins Trophy for Lifetime Achievement. Kranz received the award at an event earlier this November.

Kranz was honored for his remarkable accomplishments and success with NASA’s Mission Control for 34 years, from Project Mercury through STS-61, the first Hubble servicing mission.

He began his career in the U.S. Air Force, flying high-performance jet fighters including the F-80, F-86, and F-100. In 1958, he worked as a flight-test engineer for McDonnell Aircraft developing the Quail Decoy Missile for B-52 and B-47 aircraft.

Kranz became assistant flight director for Project Mercury with the NASA Space Task Group at Langley, Virginia, in 1960. He assumed flight director roles with Project Gemini and eventually the Apollo Program, including Apollo 11. His leadership during the Apollo 13 crisis became well known to subsequent generations thanks to the popular Ron Howard film Apollo 13 (1995) as well as Kranz’s own book and public speaking.

He continued providing expertise for many other NASA missions throughout his career, including the Skylab Program and Space Shuttle operations. Kranz receives this prestigious award as a result of a career of excellence and service in NASA’s space program.

[envira-gallery id=”51342″]

The post New Artifact: Gene Kranz’s Mug appeared first on Space Center Houston.

This camera was used in training Apollo astronauts. A motion picture camera like this was mounted on the lunar rover to record mission activities. The film was later viewed back on Earth to determine how well the equipment worked and how mission requirements were accomplished.

The large handle was easier to hold by astronauts wearing bulky spacesuit gloves.

[envira-gallery id=”49871″]

Camera breakdown

• Power Cable: The power cable provides the necessary connection between the spacecraft electrical power system and the 16 mm camera. The cable is approximately 108 inches (2.74m) long and weighs approximately 0.23 pound (0.4kg). 28 volt dc utility receptacles are located on spacecraft panels 15, 16, and 100.
• 16 mm Film Magazine: Film for each mission is supplied in preloaded film magazines that may be easily installed and/or removed from the camera by a gloved crew member. Film capacity is 130 feet ( 40m) of thin base film. Total weight of magazine with film is approximately one pound (0.4kg). Magazine run time versus frame rate is from 87 minutes at one fps to 3.6 minutes at 24 fps. Each magazine has a ‘film remaining indicator plus an end of film red indicator light. Future plans include film magazines of 400-foot capacity. Quantity and type of film supplied is determined by mission requirements.
• Lenses: Three lenses of different focal length are provided for use on the 16 mm camera.
• 10 mm: A medium wide-angle lens, the field of view being 41.1 degrees x 54.9 degrees. It is used for internal crew activities and equipment when details are required. Focus is from 6 inches to infinity with aperture openings from f 1.8 to 22. It has two spike-like handles for setting f-stop and distance with the gloved hands.
• 18 mm Kern: A lens of slightly wide-angle design and high optical quality. Primary use is for vehicle-to-vehicle photography while bracket-mounted at left or right rendezvous window. It is also the widest angle lens that may be used with the right-angle mirror. This lens is usually stowed on the camera. Viewing angle of 24 x 32 degrees and weight is approximately 0.80 pound and has two spike-like handles for setting the f-stop and distance with the gloved hand. This improved lens has larger numbers for reading while in the EV spacesuit.
• 75mm Kern: A medium telephoto lens design with excellent optical properties. Primary use is for photography of distant objects and ground terrain. Usually used on the window-mounted camera. Viewing angle of 6 x 8 degrees, weight is approximately 0.80 pound. This lens is similar in appearance to the new 18 mm lens and has two handles for f-stop and distance, gloved hand settings, and larger printed numbers. It also has a sun shade.
• Right Angle Mirror: This accessory, when attached to the bracket- mounted 16 mm camera and lens, facilitates photography through the spacecraft rendezvous windows along a line of sight parallel to the CM X-axis with a minimum of interference to the crewmen. It adapts to the 18 m and 75 mm lenses by means of bayonet fittings.
• Ring Sight: An accessory used on the 16 mm camera as an aiming aid when the camera is hand-held. The concentric light and dark circular rings, as seen superimposed on the view, aid the user in determining the angular field of view of the sight. It is attached to the camera by its shoe sliding into a C rail. It is also used on the 70 mm camera.
• Data Acquisition Camera Mount: This device facilitates in-flight mounting of the 16mm camera at the spacecraft’s left or right rendezvous windows during zero g. The mount is a quick-disconnect hand-grip that may be attached to a dovetail adapter at either rendezvous window. The camera attaches to the mount by means of a sliding rail and a friction lock screwed against the camera by a knob. Two marked locating stops are provided for correct positioning of the camera at a window, one for the 18 mm lens and one for the 75 mm lens. Mount alignment is such that installed camera/lens line of sight is parallel to the CM X-axis, +1 degree.
• 16mm Camera Sextant Adapter: The 16mm camera can be used to take photographs of the moon through the CM sextant during lunar orbit, useing camera sextant adapter. The adapter is an optical unit about 8 inches long that mounts directly on the Guidance and Nav Panel 122 SXT socket. The camera attaches to the adapter by means of a bayonet fitting.
• Timing Cable: The DAC timing cable function is to supply 28 vdc to the 16 mm DAC and route the shutter closure signal to the RHEB panel 227 and the PCM junction box. The DAC timing cable is 32 inches long with a connector at each end. The DAC connector has an orange index mark and is labeled P1 – DAC PWR. The connector for panel 227 is a large 90 elbow, has a blue grey index mark, and is labeled P2 – PNL 227. At launch, the cable is coiled, secured with a utility strap, and stowed in L2. After mounting the DAC in the right rendezvous window, the DAC timing cable is unstowed and the connector (P1 – DAC PWR) is mated to the camera. The SC1 INST PWR switch on panel 227 is verified in the OFF position, the cable connector (P2) is connected to the panel receptacle, and the panel switch is placed to the PWR position. The shutter closure signal is sent to the PCM junction box when the camera is operating.

16mm Camera Operation: The camera mount (grip) is removed from stowage and attached to the dovetail at the appropriate rendezvous window. The 16mm camera and accessories are unstowed as required. The selected lens is attached. An optional right-angle mirror may be installed on the lens. A ring sight may also be installed on the camera for hand-held use. A film magazine is installed on camera. The correct exposure is determined. The lens aperture and focus are set. The camera mode (frame rate) and shutter speed are set. The power cable is installed on camera. If required, the camera is installed in the mount at the window. The Utility Power receptacle switch is set to Off, the camera power cable is connected to the appropriate receptacle and the Utility Switch is placed to the Power position. Filming operation can be started by pressing the Operate button (switch) on the front of the camera. To stop the camera, the Operate button is pressed again.

The post New Artifact: Apollo-Era Data Acquisition Camera appeared first on Space Center Houston.

Q: Do you ever customize your drones?
A: Yes! Most of my drones are custom built by me. Custom building FPV drones gives me the flexibility to capture very specific shots that a normal drone wouldn’t be able to catch. When filming inside Space Center Houston, I knew I needed something very small, and very safe while still preserving the camera quality. I decided to build a drone only weighing 180 grams, but still having the capability to shoot in 4K quality. In order to achieve this, I had to tear apart a GoPro down to the motherboard and then fit that inside a palm-sized drone. With this drone, I was able to safely fly around the exhibits without posing a threat, and it allowed me to go through the smallest of gaps like the hatch inside the Skylab.

Q: Is it disorienting to wear the goggles while you fly?
A: Yes! When I first started flying FPV, it took me a week or two to get used to the wide-angle perspective. My body would instinctively want to move around as I was trying to fly. Luckily, I don’t get motion sickness. Eventually it just clicks and your brain gets used to it.

Q: What are your favorite types of shots/maneuvers to do?
A: My favorite types of shots have to be fast 360-degree orbiting shots, diving shots (free fall with the nose down), and fast-paced tracking shots – like if I’m chasing a fast car. Going through really small gaps is fun to do too.

Q: What was your favorite thing to film at Space Center Houston?
A: Too many things to choose from! My favorite shot was probably going through the hatch inside the Skylab Trainer. Watching the astronaut spin made it feel like I was really floating in space. I also loved flying around the Saturn V rocket inside Rocket Park. Getting to film on NASA property was definitely one of the highlights.

Q: How do weather conditions affect your ability to fly?
A: I feel like I’m always looking at the weather forecast. Weather does affect my ability to fly my drones. For example, if wind speed is relatively high, it can throw off the performance of the drone. and I have to adjust my flight paths accordingly.

The post VIDEO: Explore Space Center Houston in a new way appeared first on Space Center Houston.

Have you seen the shuttle-era Orbiter Access Arm in Independence Plaza? Find out how this historic artifact found its way to Space City all the way from the Space Coast in today’s blog post.

When and where was our OAA used?

Our OAA was located at Launch Complex 39B (LC-39B) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida. Originally part of the Apollo launch tower, it was modified for the Space Shuttle Program and used for 53 shuttle missions between 1986 and 2006. The first time it was used was STS-51-L, Challenger’s last flight. The last steps taken on Earth by the STS-51-L crew were across this gantry.

When was it retired?

When the Shuttle Program ended, KSC dismantled Launch Complex 39B, one of the two shuttle launch pads, to prepare for future modifications for the Space Launch System (SLS) and Commercial Crew Program.

A member of the KSC exhibits team requested two pieces of the launch structure be saved – the OAA and the “beanie cap,” which was the oxygen vent hood positioned above the external fuel tank.

Both artifacts were set aside to use in the new shuttle building at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.

How did it end up in Space City?

Space Center Houston Exhibits Director Paul Spana traveled to KSC with a transportation team to plan the move of the shuttle replica Explorer, now named Independence and on display at Space Center Houston atop the historic shuttle carrier aircraft NASA 905.

Coincidently, while Spana was as KSC, the KSC exhibits team learned they only had room to display one of the two artifacts they had saved. They chose to keep the beanie cap and offered Spana the OAA, which was tied down in a field and would go to the scrap yard if it couldn’t be transported to Space Center Houston.

Spana worked with the transportation team to see if it was possible to take the OAA back to Space City. After measuring the massive artifact and exploring options, the team developed a plan to drive the OAA from Florida to Texas via a flatbed trailer.

Where is it on display?

Spana originally planned to display the OAA next to the shuttle replica Independence. Since the Independence display wasn’t yet complete, the OAA was temporarily stored at Rocket Park.

However, before the OAA could be placed on display at the center, we acquired the historic shuttle carrier aircraft NASA 905. This changed Spana’s plans.

There were only a few locations the 65-foot-long OAA could be placed, and in 2016, it found it’s home in Independence Plaza across from NASA 905.

The OAA was designed to be exposed to the elements so it didn’t require much protection to be displayed outdoors.

The preservation efforts included enclosing the white room with Plexiglas to protect it from rain. The lighting across the whole gantry was rewired in order to use the existing fixtures. Additionally, a rubber mat was added along the path of the OAA for guest safety.

The next time you visit Space Center Houston, walk down this historic artifact and experience what it was like to be an astronaut taking your last steps on Earth before launching to the stars.

Independence Plaza

The post The story behind our Orbiter Access Arm appeared first on Space Center Houston.

Space Center Houston has a new lunar sample on display! Sample no. 76015 is displayed in our Lunar Vault, pictured above in his home, our display case.

What is it? What makes it special? Where did it come from? We’re glad you asked.

A lunar meteorite

Sample no. 76015 is a piece of lunar breccia. That means it’s a rock made from material fragmented by meteoroid impacts. The boulder from which this sample was taken consisted of minerals and rock cemented together in glassy matrix.

Why glass? There are two possibilities. The heat from the meteoroid’s impact is so hot that it turns any silica in the materials into glass. That impact could have formed the glassy matrix. Of course, the glass may be volcanic in origin, essentially being “frozen” lava.

Where did it come from?

This sample was collected as part of the Apollo 17 mission. The last Apollo mission to land on the Moon, Apollo 17 brought back the most tonnage of lunar samples of any mission to date. Astronauts Gene Cernan and Jack Schmidt landed in the Taurus-Littrow Valley near the edge of Mare Serenitatis, which means “Sea of Serenity.”

This is a geologically diverse area surrounded by mountains and an ancient lava flow in the valley. It was helpful then that the Apollo 17 mission had its own geologist on board. Schmidt studied as a geologist and became the first scientist to venture into space for NASA.

The boulder from which Sample no. 76015 came seems to have rolled down the side of a nearby hill .

Why is it special?

Between 1969 and 1972, six Apollo missions brought back 382 kilograms (842 pounds) of lunar rocks, core samples, pebbles, sand and dust from the lunar surface.

That seems like a lot, but relatively speaking, scientists have a very small amount of lunar materials to study. Even all these years later, they’re still finding new information out about the Moon.

Study of rock and soil samples from the Moon continues to yield useful information about the early history of the Moon, the Earth, and the inner solar system. Nearly 400 samples are distributed each year for research and teaching projects.

Recent computer models indicate that the Moon could have been formed from the debris resulting from the Earth being struck a glancing blow by a planetary body about the size of Mars.

NASA Johnson Space Center is the home for most of the lunar samples on Earth. Learn more about the research being done there here.

The post Space Center Houston adds new lunar sample appeared first on Space Center Houston.

Gemini III launched March 23, 1965 with Prime Crew astronauts Virgil I. “Gus” Grissom and John W. Young. NASA’s two-man Gemini spaceflights demonstrated that astronauts could change their capsule’s orbit, remain in space for at least two weeks and work outside their spacecraft–all essential skills to land on the moon and return safely to Earth. Solve Space by unscrambling this image and learn more about Gemini III, and how to see a Gemini-era spacecraft at Space Center Houston!

Learn More About It

• “Molly Brown” was named after the Broadway musical and was a reference to Grissom’s previous Mercury craft, the Liberty Bell 7, which sank shortly after splashdown.
• Gemini III was intended to test the new maneuverable spacecraft.
• The crew members fired thrusters to change the shape of their orbit, shift their orbital plane slightly, and drop to a lower altitude.
• The mission had a few thruster issues, but was considered a success.
• The spacecraft “Molly Brown” orbited Earth three times.
• The Gemini III tests paved the way for rendezvous missions later in the Gemini Program.
• It proved it was possible for a lunar module to lift off the moon and dock with the lunar orbiting command module for the trip home to Earth. 
• It also proved spacecraft could be launched to rendezvous and dock with an orbiting space station.
• Gemini III was the mission with the infamous contraband corned beef sandwich.

About This Image

Astronauts Virgil I. Grissom and John Young stand in front of Gemini trainer prior to test at Mission Control Center.

Discover Firsts

Veteran Mercury astronaut Grissom was selected as command pilot of Gemini III, making him the first person traveling into space twice. Pilot John W. Young became the first person to make six spaceflights, including commanding Apollo 16 during which he walked on the moon. Gemini III was the first crewed Gemini flight.

Experience More

• See a Gemini-era spacecraft at Space Center Houston inside Starship Gallery. 
• Learn more about other Gemini missions and firsts in our Mission Monday.

The post Solving Space: Gemini III Launch appeared first on Space Center Houston.

Apollo 17 was the last mission in which humans traveled to the Moon. It launched on Dec. 7, 1972; 12:33 a.m. EST,  with crew Eugene A. Cernan, Commander, Harrison H. Schmitt, Lunar Module Pilot, Ronald E. Evans, Command Module Pilot. It landed on the lunar surface on Dec. 11, 1972. Solve Space by unscrambling this image and learn more about Apollo 17, how to experience Apollo at Space Center Houston, and how we get there with the Artemis program!

Learn More About It

• It was the third and final mission to employ the Lunar Roving Vehicle ­– a lightweight, electric vehicle designed to operate in the low-gravity vacuum of the Moon.
• The lunar rover vehicle allowed Apollo astronauts to extend the range of their moonwalks traversed a total of 30.5 kilometers. Lunar surface-stay time was 75 hours, and lunar orbit time 17 hours.
• The crew collected the oldest known unshocked lunar rock, which suggests that the Moon had a dynamo-generated magnetic field in its past.
• They also obtained samples of “orange soil” containing volcanic glass from an explosive eruption, as well as deploying scientific experiments.
• A plaque left on the Moon by the astronauts reads: “Here man completed his first exploration of the Moon, December 1972 A.D. May the spirit of peace in which he came be reflected in the lives of all mankind.”
• It was the first Apollo mission launched at night.
• Apollo 17 was the sixth and final mission in the Apollo program that explored the lunar surface.
• This spacecraft established the foundation for command modules that will take humans back to the Moon and on to Mars.

Discover Firsts

Apollo 17 was the first in which a scientist got to investigate the Moon firsthand: geologist Harrison H. Schmitt, who was also pilot of the lunar module, “Challenger.” The two primary geology objectives were to obtain highland samples older than the impact that created the Imbrium Crater (the area Apollo 15 had explored) and to investigate the possibility of geologically recent, explosive volcanism.

Experience More

• See a piece of Apollo history, the mission’s command module, at Space Center Houston inside Starship Gallery. 
• Visit our new exhibit open now through May 2, Apollo: When We Went to the Moon.
• Learn more about Artemis, humanity’s return to the moon.

The post Solving Space: Apollo 17 appeared first on Space Center Houston.