Space City, Texas

Houston suburb town, host the original Space Center with many historical archives, including Mission Control, and Apollo 13 lithium hydroxide canister. 

The historic Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center has been in this suburb of Houston since 1961. Originally the Space Center was named Manned Spacecraft Center when it was first established. It was later renamed named after Texas native President Lyndon B. Johnson. 

(Johnson Space Center, IMUS Geographics)

According to nasa.gov, the Johnson Space Center has aided in all Apollo programs, including the historic Apollo 11. The Space Center houses the original mission control room from all nine Gemini missions and all seventeen of the Apollo missions.

Erin Hill stated in an interview, “You can feel the history as soon as you enter the mission control room”. She also stated that “It was a surreal feeling being in the same room that they monitored the historic Apollo 11 mission and even the last ever Apollo 17 mission”.

 In addition to this she noted that “Being able to go inside the replica of the original NASA 905 shuttle carrier craft was an experience she will never forget.” Lastly, she said that her favorite exhibit of the Space Center was the Starship Gallery.” Hill indicated this was her favorite because “it had the original Apollo 13 lithium hydroxide canister.”

According to spacecenter.org, there are ten different exhibits and experiences in the within the Johnson Space Center. These include, NASA tram tour, SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket Exhibit, Starship Gallery, Spacesuit Collection, Independence Plaza, The Artemis Exhibit, Mission Mars, International Space Station Gallery, Films, and Live Presentations. Of all of these, spacecenter.org states that the NASA tram tour is the most popular.

The NASA tram tour includes a tour of the Historic Mission Control, George W.S. Abbey Rocket Park, and Astronaut Training Facility. 

The historic Mission Control tour consists of seeing the exact place where every Apollo and Gemini mission was conducted. 

(Mission Control)

When touring the George W.S. Abbey Rocket Park, you get to see the Saturn V rocket, which was the tallest, heaviest, and most powerful rocket ever flown. 

While you tour the Astronaut Training Facility, you get the place where every astronaut that ever went to space trained.

The Johnson Space Center has had a great impact on the Houston community since its establishment in 1961. Many people come from all over of the country to tour this historic site daily. It truly exciting to see the growth and impact the Johnson Space Center has had on generations past, and generations to come.

Bibliography 

“Exhibits and Experiences.” Space Center Houston, 27 Oct. 2022, https://spacecenter.org/exhibits-and-experiences/. Accessed 25 February 2023

“Johnson Space Center, Texas.” IMUS Geographics. https://www.imusgeographics.com/johnson-space-center-texas. Accessed 25 February 2023

“JSC History.” NASA, NASA, https://historycollection.jsc.nasa.gov/JSCHistoryPortal/history/jsc_history.htm. Accessed 25 February 2023

“Mission Control.” Space Center Houston. https://spacecenter.org/exhibits-and-experiences/nasa-tram-tour/historic-mission-control/ . Accessed 25 February 2023