|
Author
|
Topic: Space Center Houston NASA VIP tours
|
crash
Member Posts: 353
From: West Sussex, England
Registered: Jan 2011
|
posted 02-20-2023 06:16 AM
   
I've been fortunate to do several Level 9 tours at Space Center Houston in the past but I'm just trying to get some information that I can pass on to a colleague. I always tell people to book the Level 9 tour but I see that it is no longer available in its previous format. Am I right in understanding that it has become the VIP Tour and is in separate parts, Mission Control and Astronaut Training? It appears to me that to replicate the old Level 9 tour you have to book both VIP tours at a cost of $199.95 each. That's a grand total of $399.90 and you don't even get a free lunch. I must be doing something wrong as when I last did it in 2019 it was about $180 for the whole day. Can anyone advise as to my possible misunderstanding and point me in the right direction? Thank you. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 52138
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
|
posted 02-20-2023 09:37 AM
Per Space Center Houston, in the wake of the pandemic closing Johnson Space Center to all visitors (and, for some time, most employees), the Level 9 Tour has been discontinued. Due to changes in availability of NASA Johnson Space Center facilities, we will not be able to offer Level 9 Tours until further notice. We are closely monitoring the situation and will provide the most access we can for all our tours. As you described, Space Center Houston now offers two NASA VIP Tours: Mission Control (9 a.m. – 12 p.m.) - Crew Systems Laboratory
- Shuttle Avionics Innovation Laboratory
- Apollo Mission Control Center
- ISS Mission Control
Astronaut Training (1 – 4 p.m.) - Jake Garn Simulation and Training Facility
- Astronaut Training Facility
- NBL
And yes, tickets are $199.95 per person, per tour and do not include a meal. The VIP Tours are the only option that exist currently to go to locations not included on the NASA Tram Tour included with admission. |
crash
Member Posts: 353
From: West Sussex, England
Registered: Jan 2011
|
posted 02-20-2023 09:52 AM
Robert, thank you for posting that information. It just strikes me as strange that they would offer the old tour in two parts which will probably incur a fair bit of duplication and all with a massive price increase. Oh, well, that's progress, I guess. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 52138
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
|
posted 02-20-2023 10:12 AM
I cannot speak to the price increase, but with regards to the previously included meal, the Johnson Space Center cafeteria that used to cater to Level 9 guests remains closed, with food trucks taking its place. So with no on-site food options (or at least none with the tease that you might see an astronaut or two come in to dine), maybe it made more sense to break the day into two tours. |
Dietrich
Member Posts: 87
From:
Registered: Jul 2009
|
posted 03-26-2024 03:03 PM
How do these two VIP tours compare to the tram tour? |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 52138
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
|
posted 03-26-2024 03:55 PM
There are three tram tours: - Historic Mission Control Tour
- Astronaut Training Facility Tour
- George W.S. Abbey Rocket Park Tour
Each only go to one location and not all may be available on every day. The Space Vehicle Mockup Facility and Rocket Park tours are included with admission; the Mission Control tour is at an additional price. I believe the Space Vehicle Mockup Facility stop on the VIP tour provides floor access while the tram tour only goes to an elevated viewing platform behind glass. Likewise, the Mission Control stop on the VIP tour also includes seeing the ISS flight control room, whereas the tram only views the Apollo-era mission operations control room (neither allow floor access to either room). And, of course, the VIP tours go to other locations that the tram tours do not. |
advertisement