8 Ways to Make Your Family's NASA Trip Educational and Fun

When you're planning a family trip to Houston, the Johnson Space Center is one of those can't-miss destinations, and for good reason. It’s not just a collection of space artifacts or simulators. It’s a living part of history, where missions are monitored in real time and where the future of human spaceflight is being shaped daily.

But for families, especially those with younger kids, striking the right balance between educational value and hands-on fun can be tricky. You want your children to learn something meaningful, but not feel like they're back in a classroom. You want them to be engaged, but not bouncing off the walls.

The good news? You can absolutely have both. Whether it’s your first visit or your fifth, here are eight easy ways to turn your NASA Space Center trip into an exciting, educational adventure for the whole family.

1. Set the Scene With a Pre-Visit "Mission Briefing"

Before you even leave home, get your kids invested by treating the visit like an actual space mission. Pull up a map of the NASA Space Center online and go through the layout together.

Assign each child a "mission": maybe one will be in charge of finding the Mars exhibit, another will "report back" on the Space Shuttle replica, and another will lead the group to the Astronaut Gallery.

Not only does this create anticipation, but it also gives kids a purpose. It shifts the experience from passive observation to active exploration, and helps them retain more information during the visit.

2. Use the NASA App to Guide Your Exploration

NASA’s official Space Center Houston app is an underused treasure. It features exhibit maps, descriptions, and real-time schedules for tram tours and live presentations. You can download it before arriving and involve your children in choosing which attractions to prioritize. Want to see a real moon rock? Looking to catch a Mission Briefing Live presentation? Let your kids help plan the itinerary.

The act of choosing what to see builds ownership and gives them a voice in shaping the experience. For curious minds, that’s everything.

3. Schedule the Tram Tour Early in the Day

The NASA Tram Tour is the foundation of the Space Center experience, and often the first thing to get booked up on busy days. It takes you to key operational parts of the Johnson Space Center campus, including the Historic Mission Control and the Rocket Park, where the enormous Saturn V rocket is on display.

Do this early. Kids have more energy (and patience) in the morning, and tram lines get longer as the day progresses. Use the quieter afternoon hours for indoor, self-paced exhibits like the Astronaut Gallery or Mission Mars.

Remember, this is where your pre-visit "mission" assignments can come alive. Have them report on which rockets were spotted and what surprised them most about the old Mission Control.

4. Create a DIY "Space Passport" for Learning Engagement

Bring a small notebook or print out a homemade "Space Passport" before the visit. Inside, create space for kids to jot down:

• New vocabulary words (like "orbital," "booster," or "command module")
• The name of their favorite astronaut
• A fun fact about Mars or the Moon
• A drawing of their favorite space suit or rocket

You can turn it into a game by offering small rewards (stickers, space snacks, or even a NASA souvenir) for completing all the prompts.

This turns wandering through exhibits into a mini research project without them even realizing it.

5. Ask Staff and Volunteers Questions; They Love It!

One of the best-kept secrets of NASA Space Center Houston? The people who work there are often retired NASA engineers, space educators, and passionate volunteers who love talking with guests.

Encourage your kids to ask questions, whether about a specific rocket, the training process for astronauts, or how space food works. Many of these staffers are trained in communicating complex ideas in ways that are fun and digestible for children.

It also teaches kids how to engage with experts, a skill that will serve them well in any field.

6. Take Advantage of the Interactive Exhibits

Space Center Houston isn’t just about looking; it’s about doing. From simulator pods to interactive touchscreens, there are dozens of hands-on features built to help kids grasp science concepts through action.

Don’t rush through these. Set aside time to sit at the Mars Rover model, try on virtual space gloves, or explore the STEM Innovation Lab (if open). If you’re traveling with teenagers, many of these stations include more advanced information or engineering design challenges that will keep older kids just as engaged.

7. Incorporate Books or Documentaries Before and After

Extend the learning beyond the physical visit. In the days before your trip, consider reading age-appropriate books about space, astronauts, or NASA’s history. For younger kids, titles like There’s No Place Like Space (from the Cat in the Hat series) work well. For older children, documentaries like The Mars Generation or Apollo 11 can add inspiring context.

After the trip, revisit these books or watch a related documentary and see what new things they notice after having experienced the exhibits in person. It reinforces learning and keeps the momentum going.

8. Don’t Overload the Day

With so much to see and do, it’s easy to fall into the trap of trying to "see it all." But too much in one day can leave everyone tired and cranky.

Instead, pick 4–5 highlights and do them well. Leave time in between for breaks, snacks, and unstructured browsing. Sit down in the café or at a shaded bench and ask your kids what their favorite part was so far, what they want to learn more about, or what questions they still have.

These reflection moments are often when the real learning clicks, and it’s where you, as a parent, can be part of that moment of discovery.

About the Author

This blog was written by a tour development coordinator at Astroville Tours, a Houston-based tour company specializing in immersive city experiences, private group excursions, and transportation packages to destinations like NASA’s Johnson Space Center.

Astroville Tours is known for its curated and family-friendly itineraries, helping travelers experience Houston through a mix of storytelling, local insight, and seamless logistics. They offer NASA Space Station tours, food tours, city lights tours, transportation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, corporate event planning services, and more.

Astroville Tours can be contacted here.

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Anne J. Baca is an experienced property management consultant and passionate advocate for sustainable living. With over a decade of expertise in the real estate industry,