|

NASA Space Center – Huntsville, Alabama

This post may contain affiliate or referral links. Read more about this in our disclosure policy.

While in Nashville we took a day and made the drive down to Huntsville, AL and took in the NASA Space Center. I remember my grandparents bringing me here as a kid and just being in awe of the size of the space shuttles, as a grown up that awe hasn't changed!

NASA Space Center - Huntsville, Alabama

 

You can get the full Alabama Unit Study as well for free! This includes crafts, movies, printables, field trips, and more! 

You can see the most famous space shuttle from the parking lot. The whole space center is spread out and huge and there is plenty of walking to do!

NASA Space Center - Huntsville, Alabama map

When entering the center, you walk through a walkway that is just like the astronauts walk to get into the space shuttle

NASA Space Center - Huntsville, Alabama Walkway

The first footprint on the moon

NASA Space Center - Huntsville, Alabama Footprint

They had a children's inventor's corner where they could build with foam pieces. The kids had a blast!

NASA Space Center - Huntsville, Alabama Foam Play Area

Even my youngest got involved

NASA Space Center - Huntsville, Alabama Foam Play Area Baby

They had a scale where you could see how much you weighed on the moon and mars.

NASA Space Center - Huntsville, Alabama Scale

Coke Cans that have been in space!

NASA Space Center - Huntsville, Alabama Coke in Space

They had a small cafe for lunch

NASA Space Center - Huntsville, Alabama Cafe

Then we headed outside and got a look at space shuttles up front. Look at how huge this one is!

NASA Space Center - Huntsville, Alabama Shuttle

A little info about the shuttle stack, the Pathfinder at the top is where the astronauts are. The brown piece is the external tanks and rocket boosters to get them INTO space, that comes off at some point before they return to Earth.

NASA Space Center - Huntsville, Alabama Shuttle Stack

From there we went to, what my kids dubbed ‘The Rocket Garden'

NASA Space Center - Huntsville, Alabama Rocket Garden

We hit the 2nd building and they had a rocket hanging from the ceiling!

NASA Space Center - Huntsville, Alabama Rocket Ceiling

They had a great hands-on area for the kids to run around and run off some steam. It was set up like the launch headquarters.

NASA Space Center - Huntsville, Alabama Kids Play Area

They got to pop their heads in some bubbles and become astronauts.

NASA Space Center - Huntsville, Alabama Kids Face Pic

They got to test out what it felt like getting ready to launch in the space shuttle! They had to lay down to get in!

NASA Space Center - Huntsville, Alabama Seat Simulator

Then we learned about the quarantine procedures once they come back from space and got to tour one of the quarantine airstreams. The kids were excited because it was an RV.

NASA Space Center - Huntsville, Alabama Mobile Quarentine

It was a pretty small space with the basic bunk beds.

NASA Space Center - Huntsville, Alabama MobileBunk Beds

And a little living area with some things to do.

NASA Space Center - Huntsville, Alabama Mobile Living Room

Then on the walk back to the main entrance baby girl passed out on daddy!

NASA Space Center - Huntsville, Alabama Sleeping Baby

We also got our picture that was taken when we came in.

NASA Space Center - Huntsville, Alabama Picture

Get Our Travel Tips and Freebies!

Join our travel community and get weekly updates with travel tips, locations, and freebies. Can't wait to connect with you!

    ​

    Similar Posts

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *