US Space and Rocket Center Tours

Sometimes billed as “Earth's largest space museum,” the US Space and Rocket Center showcases a collection of more than 1,500 items, including rockets, engines, spacecraft, and other artifacts relating to the US space program. Visitors learn about the program’s achievements through simulators and interactive exhibits.

The Basics
Exhibits at the US Space and Rocket Center include the National Historic Landmark Saturn V moon rocket, Apollo 16 command module, Skylab Orbital Workshop, an Apollo 12 moon rock, and Pathfinder, the world’s only full-stack space shuttle display. General admission includes not only access to the Shuttle Park, Rocket Park, and all indoor exhibit areas including the main museum atrium and the Davidson Center for Space Exploration, but also guided tours of Saturn V Hall, hands-on demonstrations and presentations, and simulators.

Separate tickets are required for movies in the National Geographic Theater, planetarium shows, and bus tours of the Marshall Space Flight Center, the US government's civilian rocketry and spacecraft propulsion research center and one of NASA’s largest field centers.

Things to Know Before You Go

• The US Space and Rocket Center is a must-visit for space enthusiasts.
• The center is wheelchair-accessible.
• Guests can borrow wheelchairs and strollers at no cost.
• Outdoor kennels are available for visitors traveling with dogs.
• Active military service members and NASA contractors, civil servants, and retirees receive free admission.

How to Get There
The US Space and Rocket Center is a 10-minute drive or 40-minute bus ride (route 3) west of downtown Huntsville, Alabama. It’s around 100 miles southwest of Chattanooga, Tennessee, on US Highway 72W and 110 miles south of Nashville, Tennessee, on Interstate 65S. The center offers free parking for visitors.

When to Get There
The US Space and Rocket Center is open seven days a week, from 9am to 5pm. It is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. The center tends to be busiest on weekends and public holidays.

Space Camp
The US Space and Rocket Center is home to the famed Space Camp, which provides residential and educational programs for children and adults. During the week-long Space Camp, students are immersed in astronaut-training techniques using equipment adapted from NASA’s astronaut program. Designed to promote knowledge of science, engineering, aviation, and technology, other programs focus on aviation and robotics.