Visitor Center Experiences

To enhance your self-guided experience, our staff and volunteers will occasionally conduct special “pop-up” programs and activities for guests of all ages to explore science topics and NASA missions. All experiences are free of charge. 

Gallery Programs

Look for an informal educator and our curiosity cart in the main exhibit hall to complete a challenge or engage in fun, hands-on science demonstrations.

Science On a Sphere Solar System Tour

Take a self-guided tour of our local solar system and explore past, present, and future NASA planetary missions.

Special Events and Programs

Join us in one of our upcoming events or programs to explore a special STEM topic. All programs are free; those requiring advanced registration will be noted in the event description.

January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December

June

Art & Aeronautics

Saturday, June 14

10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Let your imagination fly high on Saturday, June 14 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. while you design, decorate, and launch your very own paper airplane in a celebration of art and aeronautics. Whether you’re an aviation enthusiast or an aspiring artist, this is your chance to merge engineering with expression and let your creative vision take flight!

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RockOn Launch Viewing Event

Thursday, June 26

Gates open at 5 a.m.

Experience a sounding rocket launch from the NASA Wallops Flight Facility Visitor Center Launch Viewing Area, located just a few miles from the launch pads! Guests can see and hear the rocket as it launches from Wallops Island and listen in to the Wallops Range Control audio broadcasted throughout the grounds. Onboard the rocket are student experiments from all around the United States and the world, ranging from middle school through college! The launch viewing experience is outside, and the Wallops Visitor Center grounds will be open from 5 a.m. EDT until the rocket launches.

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July

Stomp Rocket Rumble

Thursday, July 17

10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Some rockets carry science tools – not scientists – into space! Join us and the Flight Performance team from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility Sounding Rocket Program Office on Thursday, July 17 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. to explore sounding rockets and basic forces as you build and launch your own stomp rocket!

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Space Fossils

Thursday, July 24

10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Special Presentation at 11 a.m., Auditorium

Join us and special guest, David Powars, USGS geologist emeritus, at the visitor center on Thursday, July 24, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. to explore the ancient remains of the universe – asteroids! Take a journey through time and uncover the story of one of the most significant asteroid impacts in North America with a special presentation at 11 a.m. by David Powars, renowned for his publication, “The Chesapeake Impact: Crater Clues and Cosmic Consequences.” Discover how ancient collisions have shaped Earth’s geology, creating one of the largest estuaries in the United States, and learn about recent and upcoming asteroid-related NASA missions through asking questions and participating in fun, engaging activities.

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Mission Explorers

Thursday, July 31

10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Explore how NASA uses robotic spacecraft technology to uncover mysteries within the solar system on Thursday, July 31 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Joined by the Mechanical Engineering and Mechanical Production team from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility Sounding Rocket Program Office, embark on a solar system exploration mission, drafting and designing your own spacecraft prototype that will collect data about a target destination.

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August

Measuring the Height of Earth, One Photon at a Time

Friday, Aug. 7

10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Special Presentation at 10:30 a.m., Auditorium

GLOBE Observer Tool Demonstration at noon, Outside

Come learn all about the NASA Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite-2, or ICESat-2, Mission and how it uses lasers from space to measure the height of objects on Earth. Measuring the 3^rd dimension of height of objects, like ice sheets, sea ice, trees, vegetation, ocean, lakes, rivers, mountains, and much more, allows us to see how our planet is changing over time. The ICESat-2 satellite is unmatched in technology and has recently fired it’s 2-trillionth laser shot. We will showcase all of this through an interactive talk and a walk through the Wallops Visitors Center to check out the ICESat-2 Exhibit model for more discussion.

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