Enhance your space exploration adventure with an exciting film or live presentation. Hear NASA mission updates in our Mission Briefing Center, learn how astronauts live aboard the International Space Station in our Living in Space presentation, relive NASA's historic journey in Destiny Theater, and watch a space documentary on one of the largest screens in Texas.
New Perspectives
Living, working and learning aboard the International Space Station
Have you ever wondered what it is like to live in space? Now is your chance to learn how astronauts prepare for life in space at NASA Johnson Space Center.
New Perspectives is a 20 minute live presentation presented by our Mission Briefing Officers that gives you a glimpse into the lives of astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
In our ISS replica, you can experience what it is like to live in space. Learn how astronauts exercise, eat and perform research at their home in space.
This presentation allows audiences to interact with and simulate some of the challenges astronauts must overcome, as well as discover the science behind what it takes to live in space.
See how astronauts use an arm bicycle to workout in orbit, how they strap themselves to the wall to sleep and learn through X-ray technology how gravity affects the human body.
Learn how astronauts communicate with Earth and whether they use Wi-Fi. Acquire a better understanding of the experiments that go on at the station and how they benefit us on Earth.
Recognize the conditions astronauts must overcome, how astronauts receive supplies to survive and see artifacts that astronauts use daily to survive the seemingly impossible. This interactive presentation gives everyone the opportunity to imagine life as an astronaut.
New Perspectives is located in our International Space Station Gallery.
The daily presentation takes place at 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Wednesday through Monday. On Tuesdays the presentation takes place at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
BOOM
The science behind combustion
How does a rocket launch? What powers it? Who made the first rocket launch possible?
Our new presentation, BOOM, explores the explosions that move us forward, looking at the science behind combustion.
This 20-25 minute presentation demonstrates how explosions are the most basic elements of rocket propulsion.
Learn fire safety fundamentals before launching into exciting experiments that demonstrate the complex sequence of chemical reactions required for combustion to take place.
Not only will you learn what three things are required for combustion to happen, but you will also see them in action. For example, you will learn about different fuel types and see a few fuel sources in action.
Additionally, you will get a quick lesson on Isaac Newton’s third law of motion and discover who combined Newton’s third law with our knowledge of combustion to develop the first liquid fueled rocket.
BOOM is located in our Astronaut Gallery.
The daily presentation takes place at 11 a.m., 12 p.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m., and 3 p.m., except on Tuesdays the presentations begin at 10 a.m., and on Fridays and Saturdays the presentations take place at 11 a.m., 12 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.
Destiny Theater
Destiny Theater is the perfect place to launch your adventure into the past, present and future of space exploration. In Destiny Theater, you’ll see the exciting, historic film “Human Destiny” which chronicles the events leading up to the formation of NASA and spans into our successful missions to the Moon and beyond.
Using six and half million feet of NASA archival footage, this is a mission you’ll definitely want to embark on.
The first showing of the film begins 15 minutes after the center opens, and the film plays continuously until the center closes each day. Destiny Theater is located at the entrance to Starship Gallery.
Destiny Theater is also home to the podium used by President John F. Kennedy during his historic speech imploring Americans to reach the Moon.
Mission Briefing Center
Down to Earth: The Astronaut Perspective
NASA astronauts will take you on a journey to the International Space Station, and showcase the life-changing experience of an orbital perspective. View Earth as you’ve never seen it before: through the eyes of an astronaut in this 2021 documentary series.
Watch Down to Earth: The Astronaut Perspective at 1 p.m. daily in the Mission Briefing Center.
The Mission Briefing Center is located in the main plaza.
Space Center Theater
Enjoy thrilling films in the largest 4K theater in Texas. The towering five-story-tall Space Center Theater has the latest in audio and video technology.
Space Center Theater now has a new silver screen and a top-of-the-line 4K projector. 4K is ultra-high-resolution and one of the highest quality digital displays currently available. The audio received a massive improvement thanks to a state-of-the-art Dolby surround-sound system, making Space Center Theater a truly wonderful audio-visual experience.
The renovations meet the requirements of the Digital Cinema Initiatives, which means not only can Space Center Houston show amazing, cutting-edge documentaries, but it also can screen the hottest Hollywood premieres.
Space Center Houston is currently showing Touch the Stars daily at noon. Beginning Dec. 10, watch the first episode of Space Explorers: The ISS Experience, “Adapt,” at 2 p.m. CT daily in Space Center Theater.
Touch the Stars
Touch the Stars dramatically showcases the robotic spacecraft used in exploration of our solar system and the galaxy beyond.
The film traces the path to space through the history of NASA’s probes, orbiters, and landers - from the heart of our solar system and the surface of its planets and moons to the grand tour of the Voyager spacecraft through the outer planets and beyond.
Created with the latest high definition imagery and scientific data, Touch the Stars engages audiences through the use of real footage and 3-D vistas, transporting them to planets and distant stars alongside these heroic robot explorers.
Space Explorers: The ISS Experience
The largest production ever filmed in space, Space Explorers: The ISS Experience, is an epic four-part immersive series that invites you to join eight astronauts on their life-changing missions aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
Shot entirely in space over two years with groundbreaking technologies and exclusive access to the crew, the series offers an intimate take on the joy, wonder, and dangers of life in orbit. Discover the astronauts' unique challenges as they adapt to microgravity, perform critical science experiments and operations, and respond to potential catastrophic emergencies.
Get access to their full experience through moments of camaraderie, shared meals, and personal video logs. Finally, step out of the station with them for the first ever VR spacewalk and feel the transformative effects of floating in open space. Looking back at Earth, share the astronauts' incredible responsibility to foster hope: for humans, our planet, and life itself.
Mission Briefing Center presentations
Space Center Houston is currently showing two presentations in the Mission Briefing Center. The briefings typically take place three times a day and last around 15 minutes. Times are displayed at the entrance of the Mission Briefing Center and on the daily schedule in the Map and Guide; times may vary. The Mission Briefing Center is located next to the motion simulator rides in Space Center Plaza.
Mars and future deep space exploration briefing
1 p.m. & 4 p.m.
Keep yourself posted on the mission of the Mars Science Lab, also known as the rover Curiosity. Learn about its expedition, the important findings NASA has made and what NASA has planned for future Mars exploration. See images and videos taken by Curiosity and follow its path throughout the red planet.
This briefing includes information about the Curiosity rover as well as future events happening in space and what NASA Johnson Space Center is currently working on next door. Learn about future deep space exploration including human spaceflight, the Orion spacecraft and the Space Launch System.
Our Mission Briefing Officers share mission updates about future deep space exploration including human spaceflight, the Orion and the Space Launch System.
International Space Station (ISS) briefing
12 p.m. & 3 p.m.
Did you know that astronauts have lived in space continuously since November 2000 aboard the International Space Station?
This briefing has updates about who is currently on the International Space Station, how they communicate from Earth to space, the transportation astronauts use to get there and the challenges they face every day.
The presentation will also cover the scientific investigations in Earth observation, 3D printing, human research, robotics and more.
Get the answers to questions like: What is space travel doing for us on Earth? Who or what is a cosmonaut? How does the Earth look from space?
Mission Force One
Blast off on an animated space adventure through a special screening of the Disney Junior original series Mission Force One.
Now through April, watch the 35-minute episode “The Space Station Situation” from season three at Space Center Houston.
Get your space news fix at the Mission Briefing Center with live presentations sharing real-time updates on current NASA missions.
Learn what NASA has planned for the future of deep space exploration, get updates on current missions and learn about special events happening in space and on Earth.
Our trained Mission Briefing Officers present up-to-date content about the experiments conducted by astronauts in the fields of human research, biological and physical sciences, technology, education and Earth observation in order to move us forward in our pursuit of space exploration.
The officer will answer questions at the end of the presentation and share where to find more space mission updates and live broadcasts.
The Mission Briefing Center is located in the main plaza.
Host an event in one of our theaters or the Mission Briefing Center.
