|
Author
|
Topic: Space Center Houston: Level 9 Tour (JSC)
|
HarveyB
New Member Posts: 2
From: Houston
Registered: May 2005
|
posted 05-06-2005 12:42 PM
  
I'm considering taking Space Center Houston's Level 9 Tour of NASA's Johnson Space Center. Has anyone taken this tour and is it considerably better than the normal tour that is offered? |
quantumleap
Member Posts: 46
From: Newmarket, Ontario, Canada
Registered: Apr 2005
|
posted 05-06-2005 01:16 PM
I've been on the JSC Level 9 tour and thoroughly enjoyed it.Firstly, only a limited number of people get to go on it every day. When I went there were only 11 people on it. As well as going to the same places as the regular tour (historic mission control and space vehicle mockup facility), we also got to see: - Sonny Carter Neutral Bouyancy Lab (we saw two astronauts just coming out of the pool)
- Current ISS and STS Mission Control rooms
- Space environment simulation lab (a vacuum chamber - sounds boring, but I will assure you that it'll impress you if you like big things)
- Staff canteen (where you have lunch with the prospect of astronauts also being there, though in conversation I discovered that that is a very rare thing).
One thing I'd suggest is that if you do the Level 9 tour, look to spend another half day at least to look around the visitor center, as the tour takes up most of the day. |
lunarrv15
Member Posts: 1355
From: Cincinnati, Ohio, Hamilton
Registered: Mar 2001
|
posted 05-07-2005 11:58 AM
Is this a new tour added? And when was it conception? |
quantumleap
Member Posts: 46
From: Newmarket, Ontario, Canada
Registered: Apr 2005
|
posted 05-08-2005 12:58 PM
From what we were told on the tour, it has been running for over a year but started at some point after 9/11.Before 9/11 they used to allow many more people on a similar tour (currently limited to 12 people per day maximum). With 9/11 they stopped this type of tour completely for a period. The current Level 9 tour is what JSC security will allow at this time. |
MCroft04
Member Posts: 1634
From: Smithfield, Me, USA
Registered: Mar 2005
|
posted 05-08-2005 03:09 PM
My wife and I took the tour in April and enjoyed it. The highlight of the tour was at the ISS Mission Control where Bill Foster talked to us for about 30 minutes. Great guy. Some of the information given by the guide had some inaccuracies, but overall it was worth the time and money. However, the JSC Open House provided the opportunity to see everything seen on the Level 9 tour, and in some cases even better. |
Ryan Walters
Member Posts: 78
From: Hattiesburg, MS, USA
Registered: Apr 2005
|
posted 05-08-2005 09:00 PM
How do you go on this tour? |
DavidH
Member Posts: 1217
From: Huntsville, AL, USA
Registered: Jun 2003
|
posted 05-09-2005 09:27 AM
Space Center Houston: Level 9 Tour |
RocketmanRob
Member Posts: 268
From: New York City USA
Registered: Mar 2005
|
posted 03-27-2011 06:19 PM
Has anyone recently taken the Level 9 tour? Will be in Houston in April and will be taking the tour. Would appreciate any advice regarding ways to optimize the experience.
|
Fezman92
Member Posts: 1031
From: New Jersey, USA
Registered: Mar 2010
|
posted 03-27-2011 06:20 PM
I took it back in 2007 about a week or so before STS-118 and I saw Williams practicing in the pool and I also saw Drew and Morgan walking. The bus was going to give them a ride (it was raining), but they couldn't because of quarantine issues. The Apollo MCC was very cool. I have a photo of me sitting in the flight director's chair. The vacuum chamber was amazing. I saw a screw lying on the ground and wanted to pick it up to take home but I didn't, but I do have a photo of it somewhere. We drove by where they had the Orion capsule. They also took us to the mock-up area where we saw all of the training mock-ups for the ISS and shuttle. Naturally we went by the ISS and Shuttle MCC. Overall, it was quite the experience and would do it again if I was ever down there. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
|
posted 03-27-2011 06:24 PM
I took my sister on the Level 9 tour when she visited this past December. It exceeded just about all my expectations, providing access to just about every site that a NASA VIP tour would go (with the exception of the Neutral Buoyancy Lab, which is usually on the tour but was closed for refurbishments; Ellington Field was substituted instead).You can see some of my photos from the tour in this Facebook album. |
dabolton
Member Posts: 419
From: Seneca, IL, US
Registered: Jan 2009
|
posted 03-27-2011 06:43 PM
I'm taking this tour tomorrow (March 28) actually. I'll post a review afterwards. I did the Kennedy Space Center open house last September. Hoping this is somewhat a bookend to that. |
RocketmanRob
Member Posts: 268
From: New York City USA
Registered: Mar 2005
|
posted 03-30-2011 09:03 PM
Thanks for your feedback guys. Really appreciate it. Great pictures Robert! |
MrSpace86
Member Posts: 1618
From: Gardner, KS, USA
Registered: Feb 2003
|
posted 03-30-2011 10:05 PM
I will be going to Houston in late July and had the same question posted. I also wondered if I don't take the Level 9 Tour, do I still get to see the Saturn V, Space Center Houston, and the historic Mission Control (I believe this is called the Tram Tour)? |
MCroft04
Member Posts: 1634
From: Smithfield, Me, USA
Registered: Mar 2005
|
posted 03-31-2011 08:01 AM
You will see Space Center Houston which has some great displays; Apollo 17 CM, Gemini 5 (although it shows an astronaut doing an EVA which didn't happen on that mission), Gordo Cooper's Faith 7, a Skylab mockup, lunar rocks  ...plus lots of other great displays and artifacts. You'll see the Saturn V and Mission Control plus additional sites on the tram tour. The Level 9 tour is a more advanced tour and is well worth the money. Enjoy! |
GACspaceguy
Member Posts: 2476
From: Guyton, GA
Registered: Jan 2006
|
posted 03-31-2011 01:06 PM
Call ahead for the Level 9 tour. I took it a couple of times and once there was so many items closed it was almost the same as the regular tour (except the Level 9 tour gave you lunch in the NASA cafe). |
dabolton
Member Posts: 419
From: Seneca, IL, US
Registered: Jan 2009
|
posted 04-03-2011 01:01 PM
I thought the Level 9 tour was awesome. Way exceeded by expectations. Tour lasted almost six hours. - Sonny Carter NBL - Impressively big facility. Could see three astronauts working in the far side of the pool.
- Vacuum Chamber tour was closed due to rehab on the facility.
- Rocket park - Saturn V was awesome as expected.
- Space Vehicle Mock-up Facility - Got to walk around the floor around all the mockups. Close up views of the Soyuz, the various Robonauts, spidernaut, and the new lunar rover concepts. Was fun to lookup and see the regular tour folks looking at us from the catwalk view.
- Shuttle mission control was in a simulation mode, not a lot of going on.
- ISS Mission control was busy. Astronaut Megan Mcarthur was on Capcom just in front of the windows. They have origami birds sitting on top of the consoles in honor of the Japanese earthquake.
- Historic Mission Control - I have been on the tour behind the glass but to sit at the consoles was quite powerful. After a nice presentation, we got to walk around and look at the various artifacts in the room. Astronaut Jerry Ross came in midway thru with a private tour group.
This tour was well worth the $90. The tour guides we had were excellent and answered everyone's questions fully. |
Fezman92
Member Posts: 1031
From: New Jersey, USA
Registered: Mar 2010
|
posted 04-03-2011 01:54 PM
You got to go on the mock-up floor? Nice. I guess they changed that since I was there because you couldn't go on the floor. Glad you enjoyed it. |
dabolton
Member Posts: 419
From: Seneca, IL, US
Registered: Jan 2009
|
posted 04-03-2011 03:14 PM
I uploaded tour photos to Picasa. I hope they are viewable. |
crash
Member Posts: 318
From: West Sussex, England
Registered: Jan 2011
|
posted 04-05-2011 05:19 AM
Great photos. I had the offer, and still have, of a behind the scenes tour with one of the current astronauts but because I visited at the weekend no-one was there. Oh, how I cried!!Just to prove I did look at your photos, do you really spell 'grateful' as 'greatful' on your side of the pond? No48, the Aquarius window. |
dabolton
Member Posts: 419
From: Seneca, IL, US
Registered: Jan 2009
|
posted 04-05-2011 08:37 PM
I think it should be spelled grateful too.
|
RocketmanRob
Member Posts: 268
From: New York City USA
Registered: Mar 2005
|
posted 04-10-2011 08:02 PM
Any value in taking something along to be signed in the event we bump into any astronauts or do they keep you away from them? |
MCroft04
Member Posts: 1634
From: Smithfield, Me, USA
Registered: Mar 2005
|
posted 04-10-2011 09:17 PM
I didn't run into any astronauts but I did have the opportunity to talk to flight controllers and managers, and I'm sure they would have signed something if I had been prepared. Consider the possibilities and be prepared. |
dabolton
Member Posts: 419
From: Seneca, IL, US
Registered: Jan 2009
|
posted 04-10-2011 09:25 PM
We saw Jerry Ross in the Apollo Mission control doing a private tour and the guide said the rule among employees is not to approach them without being approached first. |
intrepid12
Member Posts: 16
From: decatur,il
Registered: Jun 2010
|
posted 04-29-2011 06:24 AM
I would like to visit JSC before they start dismantling a lot of the shuttle training items. With only the one mission left,when would be a good time to visit and yet be able to see a lot of these shuttle items? Also, do you purchase the Level 9 tour when you arrive or must you do it in advance? |
dabolton
Member Posts: 419
From: Seneca, IL, US
Registered: Jan 2009
|
posted 04-29-2011 09:37 AM
You should order it online before you go to ensure you can get a ticket. Limited amount of tickets each day. |
MrSpace86
Member Posts: 1618
From: Gardner, KS, USA
Registered: Feb 2003
|
posted 07-09-2011 01:55 AM
It seems that the tram tour still gives you the tour of the Saturn V and the Mission Control Center. So basically the Level 9 tour takes you to the NBL and it includes lunch? Anyone taken both tours that can give the absolute differences? I called and the lady on the phone didn't seem to give a clear cut answer.  I ask because it seems that the Level 9 tour takes quite a bit of time and my time in Houston will be limited unfortunately. |
MCroft04
Member Posts: 1634
From: Smithfield, Me, USA
Registered: Mar 2005
|
posted 07-09-2011 07:53 AM
It's been over 5 years since I did the Level 9 tour, but it was worth the time. You see much more than on the regular tram tour, and you have the chance to interact wit some interesting people. While visiting the ISS mission control, an individual involved in recovery operations stopped by and talked to us for about 30 minutes, with a lot of inside thoughts on the Columbia accident. I believe there is a post somewhere on cS with details. I highly recommend the Level 9 tour if you have the time. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
|
posted 07-09-2011 07:54 AM
As detailed earlier in this thread, the Level 9 Tour visits several locations where the tram does not go. In addition, for the stops where the tram visits, Level 9 participants generally have greater access. For example, at the historic Apollo mission control, Level 9 visitors enter the room and can sit at the consoles, whereas tram tours provide only a view from behind glass. |
MrSpace86
Member Posts: 1618
From: Gardner, KS, USA
Registered: Feb 2003
|
posted 07-09-2011 08:34 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
For example, at the historic Apollo mission control, Level 9 visitors enter the room and can sit at the consoles, whereas tram tours provide only a view from behind glass.
Yes! See, I was looking for an answer like that. Just that alone is dealbreaker for me; I went there ten years ago for Space Camp and we were allowed into Mission Control, not behind glass. I can't break the tradition  Thank you all for the responses!
|
contra
Member Posts: 318
From: Kiel, Germany
Registered: Mar 2005
|
posted 01-27-2016 03:40 PM
Will be visiting JSC late next month and would be interested to hear if someone has taken the Level 9 Tour recently and could share their experience. What's the difference to the normal tram tour? Does the normal tour allows you to visit the old mission control room? |
space4u
Member Posts: 323
From: Cleveland, OH USA
Registered: Aug 2006
|
posted 03-18-2016 02:16 PM
Looking for some advice on a trip to Houston for my husband and myself in terms of tours at Space Center Houston and Johnson Space Center. Is the current Level 9 tour similar to what I may have done on a NASA Tweetup during the shuttle era? My husband wasn't at the tweetup experience and of course all the shuttle mock-ups are scattered at museums now. In terms of the tram tours from Space Center Houston, what exactly does that allow one to see at JSC itself? I did a tram tour many, many years ago. Editor's note: Threads merged. |
drscoop
Member Posts: 54
From: Macclesfield, UK
Registered: Oct 2010
|
posted 08-03-2016 04:29 PM
I recently contacted Space Center Houston to enquire how far ahead tickets for the Level 9 tour are released, and got the following intriguing reply... Historically, we make Level 9 Tour tickets available 3 months in advance. However, in July we made Level 9 Tours available through the end of 2016 in order to test and prepare for great new tour options in December. Does anyone have any more information as to what these new tour options might be? The message wording suggested the Level 9 tour would remain the premium "behind the scenes" option, but this suggests that perhaps some options between the Level 9 and the generic tram tour might be coming along... |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
|
posted 08-04-2016 11:46 AM
According to Space Center Houston's operations manager: Currently we have two Level Nine Tours, Monday through Friday, at 10:45 and 11:15. Those tours will continue to go to the floor of the Mission Control Center, Astronaut Training Facility and other facilities when available. We made the tours available through the end of the year to ensure we filled up all available spots. We also have a private tour of JSC for groups of 12 or more. These tours do not have access to the floor of MCC and the Astronaut Training Facility and if they exceed 12 guests then they will need to bring their own transportation. Those tours are scheduled at least three weeks in advance through our Reservations Department. We have been exploring other options as we get closer to the Super Bowl. As of right now we have not made a decision on what the final tour(s) will include but I intend to have different price options to cater to multiple guests. The details for these other tour options are expected to be confirmed by October. When they are announced, they will be shared on Space Center Houston's website and social media accounts. |
drscoop
Member Posts: 54
From: Macclesfield, UK
Registered: Oct 2010
|
posted 08-05-2016 05:17 AM
Thanks for the extra information — was there any firm indication that the Level 9 tours will continue through 2017 alongside these new options? I've been hoping for a chance to visit the floor of the MOCR for over three decades — it would be devastating if the new tours replaced this opportunity a couple of months before I finally get there... |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
|
posted 08-05-2016 12:21 PM
Level 9 tours will continue throughout 2017 (and beyond). The new tours will be an addition to Space Center Houston's current operation. |
drscoop
Member Posts: 54
From: Macclesfield, UK
Registered: Oct 2010
|
posted 03-12-2017 07:34 AM
Ahead of my upcoming Level 9 tour, I was curious whether there was any benefit to also taking the regular tram tour? I remember that the more specialized tours at KSC never visited, for example, the LC-39 observation deck, unlike the general tour. Similarly, I wondered if there were any stops on the JSC tram tour that were not on the Level 9, or any other reasons to take the tram tour the following day? (Different viewpoints/photo angles etc?)Also, are there any thoughts on things to seek out in the exhibits in the visitors center? Always on the lookout for odd, quirky, unusual objects that the majority of visitors will walk by without realising... Thanks for any tips! |
328KF
Member Posts: 1234
From:
Registered: Apr 2008
|
posted 03-12-2017 10:39 AM
I haven't done the tour as my time was limited when I was last there but I can help with your second question. You'll have the great benefit of seeing the SCA and shuttle display outside which hadn't opened yet during my visit. The main gallery is amazing with the flown suits displayed. Pete Conrad's lunar surface suit, John Young's STS-1 suit and some other great ones. One tip I can give is that the main display gallery, featuring the Skylab trainer, Apollo 17 CM, etc. is very dark. The display cases lining the walls are full of great artifacts, like Wally Schirra's flown Speedmaster, but in areas are very hard to see and read the descriptions. If you plan photography in this area, don't count on a cell phone... you'll need a good camera and flash or some external light source. Maybe even one of those small LED flashlights to read the fine print. I'm hoping to do the Level 9 soon, so look forward to a report when you get back. Good luck and enjoy! |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
|
posted 03-12-2017 11:36 AM
quote:
Originally posted by drscoop:
I was curious whether there was any benefit to also taking the regular tram tour?
The tram tour visits Historic Mission Control and the Space Vehicle Mockup Facility, as well as the Saturn V building (on busy days, the tour is broken into two tracks, one going to Mission Control and the other going to the Mockup Facility, with both visiting the Saturn V). The Level 9 tour visits the same locations. The difference is that at you go on the floor of the two rooms, rather than the viewing galleries. At Historic Mission Control, the gallery is the same that was in use during the Apollo years; same seats and all, so there is a sense of history within that room, and you get the view that the astronauts' families, press and VIPs would have seen. At the Mockup Facility, the gallery is on the second floor, so it provides a good overhead view of the building. quote:
Originally posted by drscoop:
I've been hoping for a chance to visit the floor of the MOCR for over three decades...
Just to prepare you — while I believe the Level 9 Tour still visits the room, due to its pending restoration, I believe the consoles are now cordoned off, so you cannot sit at them or walk between stations. I will reach out to a contact at Space Center Houston and confirm. |
drscoop
Member Posts: 54
From: Macclesfield, UK
Registered: Oct 2010
|
posted 03-13-2017 06:47 AM
Thanks Robert, and update would be much appreciated. I did ask on their Facebook page if there would be any restrictions and was informed: Mission Control will remain accessible during fundraising and during the restoration actually. The restorations will not affect your Level 9 tour. However, that could be interpreted as just having access to the room, or having unhindered access. Not getting to sit at the consoles would be a little disappointing, but it'd be good to be aware of this in advance, rather than finding out on the day! Any information you can glean would be welcome. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
|
posted 03-13-2017 04:08 PM
Confirmed: access to the consoles has now ended, but Level 9 tours still visit the room and guests stand at its front (between the consoles and front screen). |
advertisement