Astronaut Experiences

We offer two ways to interact with astronauts at Space Center Houston. Each option provides the opportunity to hear first-hand space exploration stories from a NASA astronaut.

Our astronaut experiences include Breakfast with an Astronaut and Astronaut Mission Memories.

Find out what each experience offers, explore the astronaut schedule, and get tickets below.

Breakfast with an Astronaut


Enhance your Space Center Houston experience with Breakfast with an Astronaut, our ultimate astronaut opportunity, giving you the most access to a NASA astronaut.

Get a glimpse into the space program from an astronaut's perspective while enjoying a delicious breakfast catered by Wolfgang Puck. After the presentation, join in a Q&A session with the veteran space explorer.

As a memento of your visit, you will receive a personalized photograph from our guest astronaut. Breakfast with an Astronaut occurs on select Fridays and every Saturday 8:30-9:30 a.m. in The Food Lab. Check the schedule below to learn more about the astronauts and when they will be speaking.

The Breakfast with an Astronaut menu includes fresh fruit, soft scrambled eggs with herbs*, traditional hash brown potatoes with sweet onion and chive butter*, boneless buttermilk fried chicken breast*, waffles*, and pastries* including croissant, fruit Danish, seasonal muffins, and gluten-free muffins. Beverages include juice, coffee, and water. There are no menu substitutions.*Contain egg and/or dairy.

Breakfast with an Astronaut tickets include admission to Space Center Houston. Adult tickets are $99.95 and child (ages 4-11) tickets are $79.95. Discovery Circle members receive additional discounts on tickets.

Guest capacity is limited to allow for a more intimate experience, so get your tickets today!

Buy Tickets Member Tickets

Cancellations and date changes must be made at least 2 weeks prior to the date. If a refund is desired, the request for a refund must be made at least 2 weeks prior to the date.

Children must be accompanied by an adult.

3. Virtual Astronaut Visits


Watch a live virtual presentation from a NASA astronaut with our Virtual Astronaut Visits.

Learn about their mission experiences and submit questions for the astronaut to answer live. Watch past Virtual Astronaut Visit presentations below.

Check the schedule below to learn more about the astronauts and when they will be speaking.

Astronaut Mission Memories


Every Friday and Saturday, a NASA astronaut shares some of their mission memories with guests at Space Center Houston at 11:30 a.m. and 1:20 p.m.

Join us for this 30-minute space exploration journey in Space Center Theater.

Check the schedule below to learn more about the astronauts and when they will be speaking.

Astronaut Mission Memories are included in general admission.

Astronaut Schedule

2021 Dates

  • Dec. 31 Brian Duffy

2022 Dates

  • Jan. 1 Brian Duffy
  • Jan. 7 Anna Fisher
  • Jan. 8 Mike Foreman
  • Jan. 14 Guy Gardner
  • Jan. 15 Bill McArthur
  • Jan. 21 Clay Anderson
  • Jan. 22 Rick Hieb
  • Jan. 28 Tom Jones
  • Jan. 29 Tom Jones
  • Feb. 4 Mike Foreman
  • Feb. 5 Michael Baker
  • Feb. 11 Clay Anderson
  • Feb. 12 Tony Antonelli
  • Feb. 18 Kevin Ford
  • Feb. 19 Bill McArthur
  • Feb. 25 Don Thomas
  • Feb. 26 Don Thomas
  • March 4 Rick Hieb
  • March 5 Rick Hieb
  • March 11 Mike Foreman
  • March 12 Brian Duffy
  • March 13 Brian Duffy
  • March 14 Tony Antonelli
  • March 15 Tony Antonelli
  • March 16 Hans Schlegel
  • March 17 Michael Baker
  • March 18 Michael Baker
  • March 19 Anna Fisher
  • March 25 Anna Fisher
  • March 26 Mark Polansky
  • April 1 Kevin Ford
  • April 2 Kevin Ford
  • April 8 Mark Polansky
  • April 9 Mike Foreman
  • April 15 Ken Cameron
  • April 16 Ken Cameron
  • April 22 Mark Polansky
  • April 23 Mike Foreman
  • April 29 Ken Cameron
  • April 30 Ken Cameron
  • May 6 Mark Polansky
  • May 7 Brian Duffy
  • May 13 Ken Cameron
  • May 14 Ken Cameron
  • May 20 Mark Polansky
  • May 21 Bill McArthur
  • May 27 Tony Antonelli
  • May 28 Tony Antonelli
  • June 3 Mark Polansky
  • Jun 4 Brian Duffy
  • June 10 Mike Foreman
  • June 11 Brian Duffy
  • June 17 Bill McArthur
  • June 18 Anna Fisher
  • June 24 Rick Hieb
  • June 25 Rick Hieb
  • July 1 Rick Hieb
  • July 2 Clay Anderson
  • July 8 Mike Foreman
  • July 9 Bill McArthur
  • July 15 Clay Anderson
  • July 16 Anna Fisher
  • July 22 Rick Hieb
  • July 23 Rick Hieb
  • July 29 Michael Baker
  • July 30 Michael Baker
  • Aug. 4 Don Thomas
  • Aug. 5 Don Thomas
  • Aug. 6 Don Thomas
  • Aug. 7 Don Thomas
  • Aug. 12 Mark Polansky
  • Aug. 13 Bill McArthur
  • Aug. 19 Anna Fisher
  • Aug. 20 Clay Anderson
  • Aug. 26 Hans Schlegel
  • Aug. 27 Michael Baker
  • Sept. 2 Mark Polansky
  • Sept. 3 Michael Baker
  • Sept. 9 Mike Foreman
  • Sept. 10 Anna Fisher
  • Sept. 16 Kevin Ford
  • Sept. 17 Tony Antonelli
  • Sept. 23 Anna Fisher
  • Sept. 24 Tony Antonelli
  • Sept. 30 Kevin Ford
  • Oct. 1 Kevin Ford
  • Oct. 7 Anna Fisher
  • Oct. 8 Tony Antonelli
  • Oct. 14 Steve Smith
  • Oct. 15 Steve Smith
  • Oct. 21 Don Thomas
  • Oct. 22 Don Thomas
  • Oct. 28 Kevin Ford
  • Oct. 29 Clay Anderson
  • Nov. 4 Kevin Ford
  • Nov. 5 Michael Baker
  • Nov. 11 Ken Cameron
  • Nov. 12 Ken Cameron
  • Nov. 18 Tom Jones
  • Nov. 19 Tom Jones
  • Nov. 25 Brian Duffy
  • Nov. 26 Brian Duffy
  • Dec. 2 John-David Bartoe
  • Dec. 3 John-David Bartoe
  • Dec. 9 John-David Bartoe
  • Dec. 10 John-David Bartoe
  • Dec. 16 Clay Anderson
  • Dec. 17 Bill McArthur
  • Dec. 23 Clay Anderson
  • Dec. 24 Brian Duffy
  • Dec. 30 Brian Duffy
  • Dec. 31 Brian Duffy

Astronaut Bio Cards

Get to know the inspiring space pioneers you can hear from at Space Center Houston. Click "view all" to see all the bio cards or browse the astronauts alphabetically.

Clay Anderson

  • Selected as an astronaut in 1998
  • Veteran of two spaceflights
  • Logged over 167 days in space

Tony Antonelli

  • Selected as an astronaut in 2000
  • Veteran of two spaceflights
  • Logged over 24 days in space

Mike Baker

  • Selected as an astronaut in 1985
  • Veteran of four spaceflights
  • Logged over 40 days in space

John-David Bartoe

  • Selected as an astronaut in 1978
  • Veteran of one spaceflight
  • Logged over 7 days in space

Guy Gardner

  • Selected as an astronaut in 1980
  • Veteran of two spaceflights
  • Logged over 14 days in space

Ken Cameron

  • Selected as an astronaut in 1984
  • Veteran of three spaceflights
  • Logged over 23 days in space

Leroy Chiao

  • Selected as an astronaut in 1990
  • Veteran of four spaceflights
  • Logged a total of 229 days in space

Brian Duffy

  • Selected as an astronaut in 1985
  • Veteran of four spaceflights
  • Logged over 40 days in space

Anna Fisher

  • Selected as an astronaut in 1978
  • Veteran of one spaceflight
  • Logged 8 days in space

Kevin Ford

  • Selected as an astronaut in 2000
  • Veteran of two spaceflights
  • Logged over 157 days in space

Mike Foreman

  • Selected as an astronaut in 1998
  • Veteran of two spaceflights
  • Logged over 26 days in space

Linda Godwin

  • Selected as an astronaut in 1986
  • Veteran of four spaceflights
  • Logged over 38 days in space

Rick Hieb

  • Selected as an astronaut in 1985
  • Veteran of three spaceflights
  • Logged over 31 days in space

Tom Jones

  • Selected as an astronaut in 1990
  • Veteran of four spaceflights
  • Logged over 52 days in space

Bill McArthur

  • Selected as an astronaut in 1990
  • Veteran of four spaceflights
  • Logged over 224 days in space

Mark Polansky

  • Selected as an astronaut in 1996
  • Veteran of three spaceflights
  • Logged over 41 days in space

Don Thomas

  • Selected as an astronaut in 1990
  • Veteran of four spaceflights
  • Logged over 43 days in space

Rex Walheim

  • Selected as an astronaut in 1996
  • Veteran of three spaceflights
  • Logged over 36 days in space

Hans Schlegel

  • Selected as an astronaut in 1988 by the German Aerospace Center. Joined ESA as an astronaut in 1998
  • Veteran of two spaceflights
  • Logged over 24 days in space

Steve Smith

  • Selected as an astronaut in 1992
  • Veteran of four spaceflights
  • Made seven spacewalks totaling 49 hours and 25 minutes

Virtual Astronaut Visits

Dr. Tom Jones June 26 presentation

Dr. Jones is a planetary scientist, speaker, author, pilot, and veteran NASA astronaut. In more than 11 years with NASA, he flew on four space shuttle missions to Earth orbit. On his last flight, Dr. Jones led three spacewalks to install the centerpiece of the International Space Station, the American Destiny laboratory. He has spent 53 days working and living in space, and in 2018 was inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame. As a senior research scientist at the Institute for Human & Machine Cognition (IHMC), Dr. Jones focuses on the future direction of human space exploration and planetary defense from asteroids. He has written books about aviation history and his own personal space exploration experiences, including: Sky Walking, Ask the Astronaut, Hell Hawks.

Dr. Leroy Chiao May 29 presentation

Chiao was selected as an astronaut in 1990 and is a veteran of four spaceflights. He logged a total of 229 days in space, including 36 hours of spacewalk time. He also became the first American to vote in a presidential election while in space in 2004. Chiao retired from NASA in 2005 and now is the CEO of OneOrbit, which inspires passion, boldness, and curiosity through keynotes, workshops and school programs designed to motivate people of all ages to overcome obstacles and find the courage to follow their dreams. Programs including virtual offerings dealing with uncertainty and motivation especially designed to provide practical tools, coping mechanism and inspiration for dealing with the changes caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
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