Stars & STEM Evening

Students in kindergarten through 12th grade can spend an evening at our science and space exploration learning center while participating in engaging STEM activities.

The Stars & STEM evening experience is developed to match each grade level’s standards so students are challenged, inspired and eager to explore STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) concepts when they return to school.

Overview

• Exciting, hands-on activities
• Grade-level appropriate learning
• Catered meal served at Space Center Houston
• Private guided tram tour to NASA Johnson Space Center
• Second-day visit to Space Center Houston

Price

• $59.95 per student
• $59.95 per adult for additional adults
• $15 per T-shirt (optional and only available during the event)

Note: Ages 18 & younger must have chaperone.

Registration questions can be answered by our reservations team at reservations@spacecenter.org or by fax at +1 281-283-4766.

Grades K-5 (ages 5-10)

• Lunar Lander – Why is it important to land a spacecraft gently on the surface of another celestial body? Design and build a shock-absorbing landing system to help protect your astronauts.
• Programming Paths – When robots help us to explore a new area, they need the correct commands to do it safely. Learn to solve programming challenges as you code your own robot to explore.
• Pinhole Planetarium – Satellites and spacecraft help us to explore our solar system and learn more about the stars. Design and build your own circuits as you learn about light emitting diodes (LED), conductors and electricity.

Grades 6-8 (ages 11-13)

• Lunar Launch – Explore Newton’s laws while learning about the parts of a rocket and the science needed for safe and successful flight. Work on your rocket stability and trajectory as you re-design and re-test for the best possible model.
• Lunar Robotic Challenge – Traverse the lunar landscape with your robot to transport valuable materials. Solve problems as you figure out a way to build a transporter to move raw materials to sites that can manufacture goods, which the astronauts can use to survive on the Moon.
• Engineering for Exploration – Using the resources and raw materials provided, participants will be guided through the engineering design process as they construct a rover to traverse the lunar surface. Learn about potential and kinetic energy transfer to give your rover a boost in this challenging environment.

Grades 9-12 (ages 14-18)

• 3, 2, 1 - Ignition! – Learn about Newton’s laws of motion while learning to construct your own Space Center Houston model rocket. Build an altitude tracker along with your rocket while you learn about the current rockets that NASA is working on to take us back to the Moon and beyond!
• Robotic Ingress Coding Challenge – Put your coding skills to the test as you program a rover to traverse across the Martian surface. Exploration has numerous challenges so participants will have to think of strategic solutions to carefully code their rover to complete the mission.
• On Target Landing Activity – NASA is preparing to land supply payloads and humans back on the moon! Learn about engineering design, accuracy and precision as students must design their spacecraft to land the payload on target for the mission to be a success.

Note: The agenda is subject to change without notice. NASA Tram Tour length and the locations visited vary depending on the season.