The center displays a flight-spare mirror for the James Webb Space Telescope, identical in structure to those currently in orbit.
The onsite Rocket Garden features a Thor-Delta rocket, which was instrumental in launching the first communications satellites.
It is located on the grounds of the Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA's first space flight complex established in 1959.
The facility includes authentic debris and remnants from various NASA missions for educational inspection.
The visitor center serves as a primary hub for public updates regarding the Earth Observing System (EOS) program.
The NASA Goddard Visitor Center serves as the public outreach facility for NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, focusing on satellite technology and Earth science. It features a collection of retired rockets, including a Delta rocket and a Thor-Delta vehicle, displayed in the outdoor Rocket Garden. Indoor exhibits provide interactive learning opportunities regarding the James Webb Space Telescope and various Earth-observing satellite missions. The center houses a scale model of the Hubble Space Telescope and artifacts documenting the history of space flight. Visitors can engage with exhibits detailing the construction and testing of spacecraft instruments. It is situated on the edge of the active Goddard campus, providing a gateway into the work conducted by the agency's largest group of scientists and engineers.
The base of the Thor-Delta rocket in the outdoor Rocket Garden.
Check the official website for scheduled special events or guest speaker presentations before arriving.
Wear comfortable walking shoes to explore the outdoor Rocket Garden effectively.
Check the NASA Goddard social media pages for potential temporary closures due to government holidays or inclement weather.
Do not attempt to enter the secure perimeter of the main Goddard Space Flight Center campus beyond the Visitor Center gates without prior authorization.
Closed on Sundays and Mondays. Regularly closed for all federal holidays.
Casual, respectful conduct is expected as this is a working government facility.
