Houston

How I got there

Flew from Auckland to Houston in Airnz NZ Business Class. Flight time of approx 14 hours.

Background of Houston

Is the Largest City in the State of Texas, home to NASA Mission Control. Houston Served as the Temporary Capital of the Republic of Texas until the United States annexed Texas in 1846.

Where I stayed

Crown Plaza Galleria Houston, $150 USD a night

What I did

Visited Mission Control, this was such a good experience. Approx 1 hour drive from Houston Central to Mission Control. It was chosen in the 60’s to be mission control for the Apollo Space Program due it’s climate and cheap land that could be purchased at the time.

At the Visitors Centre they send you on Large Golf Carts around the Campus. It’s a massive campus and takes awhile to get around, did the following tours.

Saturn V Rocket

Is the only intact fully working Rocket from the Apollo Space Program. It was produced for Apollo 18, which was a mission that never went ahead due to congress cancelling the Apollo Space Program.

Mission Control

Visited the VIP Lounge for Apollo Space Program, it was a dedicated Lounge for Astronauts Families and Government VIP’s, where they could watch in privacy what was going on. The technology was very primitive with a person manually updating the overhead project screens. Lots of cigarette trays and coffee cups. The new Mission Control is upstairs and we didn’t get to visit it as it’s off limits to visitors.

Astronaut Training Facility

Is where all Astronauts train in mock training aircraft, NASA is currently intending to go back to the Moon in 2024, only next year! They were training for Artemis Program, which NASA intends to use the Moon as a base for going to Mars. The mission is named after the other Greek God Artemis, Apollo and Artemis were both twin Greek Gods. Artemis is considered to be the moon goddess while Apollo is the sun god.

Downtown Houston

Visited downtown Houston, would recommend visiting the Waterfall Park.

My Tips

If you are staying in Houston and intend to visit mission control get a rental car as it’s 40 miles to Mission Control from central Houston

Book Tickets for the Space Centre in advanced they do sell out quickly.

My Photos