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Glenn Research Center Celebrates NASA’s 60th Anniversary

NASA 60th anniversary logo
Credits: NASA

NASA is celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2018. The Glenn Research Center in Cleveland invites the public to join in the celebration with two special events.

Celebrate NASA’s 60th at Great Lakes Science Center 

NASA Glenn will host a special anniversary celebration in its Visitor Center at Great Lakes Science Center on Sept. 29 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event is open to the public and will feature science demonstrations and an appearance by former NASA astronaut Gregory H. Johnson. General admission rates to Great Lakes Science Center will apply. Visit the event page for more details.

Special Tour of NASA Glenn at Lewis Field 

Also on Sept. 29, we will host a special tour of NASA Glenn’s main campus for up to 200 guests. To participate in the tour, guests must have a ticket called a “Golden Astronaut.”

A limited number of Golden Astronaut tickets were randomly distributed at events throughout the year. The tickets make the recipient a candidate to receive up to four (4) registered entries to attend the tour. To be eligible, a Golden Astronaut ticket holder must be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident and 18 years of age or older. 

Tour Registration  

Tour registration is closed. The registration website remains open for registered Golden Astronaut ticket holders to obtain information about the event. Ticket holders were required to activate their ticket by Aug. 31 to attend the tour. 

Please review our Frequently Asked Questions for more information about the Golden Astronaut ticket and tour information.  

Please read Tour Rules and Registration (PDF) for detailed eligibility and security requirements.

For more information on NASA Policies Regarding Visitors see our Visitor Security Policy before your tour.

golden astronaut poster
Credits: NASA

FAQs

Tour Eligibility:

  • Who is eligible to receive a Golden Astronaut ticket?
    People who attend a designated distribution event and meet the following eligibility requirements are eligible to receive a ticket: you must be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident and 18 years of age or older.
  • Are NASA employees and contractors eligible to receive a Golden Astronaut ticket?
    No. Employees, contractors, or any other NASA-badged individuals and hosts of designated events are not eligible to participate. Likewise, members of the immediate families (spouse and biological, adoptive or step-parents, grandparents, children, grandchildren and siblings, and each of their respective spouses regardless of where they reside) or households (whether related or not) of any of the above individuals are not eligible to participate.
  • Are NASA retirees eligible to receive a Golden Astronaut ticket?
    Yes. If you are a NASA retiree and are not currently employed by a NASA contractor or event host or are a volunteer for NASA or an event host, you are eligible to receive a ticket. However, members of the immediate families (spouse and biological, adoptive or step-parents, grandparents, children, grandchildren and siblings, and each of their respective spouses regardless of where they reside) or households (whether related or not) of any of individuals who are employees, contractors, or volunteers of NASA, its contractors or event hosts are not eligible to participate.
  • If I have received a ticket, can I attend the tour if I am not a U.S. citizen?
    No. However, if you are a non-US citizen who is not a Legal Permanent Resident or a youth under 18 and you receive a Golden Astronaut ticket, you may pass the ticket along to an eligible person of your choosing at the event, at a later date prior to registering for the tour or return the ticket to an official NASA representative at the event or via US Mail at the address posted on the rules.
  • If I have received a ticket, can I attend the tour if I am not yet 18 years old?
    Yes. However, the ticket holder must be at least 18 years old to register the ticket online. If someone younger receives the ticket, they can pass it along to a parent or guardian at the event, or any time prior to registration. While children can attend, due to the nature of the tour and its length, we are limiting the age of children to 10 years of age or older. An adult must register the ticket and attend with the children.
  • Are there any age restrictions for children?
    Yes. While children can attend, due to the nature of the tour and its length, we are limiting the age of children to 10 years of age or older, but an adult must register and attend with the children.

Policies:

  • How many Golden Astronaut tickets will you be handing out?
    Up to fifty (50) tickets may distributed. The number of tickets may vary from event to event, but at least two tickets will be distributed at each designated event.
  • Are tickets transferrable? Can I give my ticket to someone else if I am unable to attend the September 29th tour?
    Yes. The ticket is transferrable to another eligible adult before it is activated in the online registration system. A mismatch between registration and ticket number will invalidate the ticket and the registration. Unregistered tickets will be invalid for entry.
  • How many people can attend with one ticket?
    Each ticket has the potential to be used for up to four (4) registered entries to the tour. To activate this ticket, you must be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent residents 18 years of age or older. (While children can attend, due to the nature of the tour and its length, we are limiting the age of children to 10 years of age or older, but an adult must register and attend with the children.)
  • Do I need to present my Golden Astronaut ticket on the day of the tour? What happens if I lose it before the event?
    Yes. The ticket you received and activated by registering must be retained and presented on the day of the tour. If you lose the ticket AFTER activating it by registering online, you can contact grc-public-inquiries@mail.nasa.gov. A NASA Glenn representative will consider your request and inform you if the ticket can be replaced.
  • What should I do if I’ve registered for the tour, but need to cancel?
    Please contact grc-public-inquiries@mail.nasa.gov to cancel your registration. You may not transfer your ticket after the online registration has been completed.

Tour Information:

  • What is the tour agenda?
    Arrival and check-in at Great Lakes Science Center (GLSC) will be from 8-8:30 a.m. Roundtrip transportation will be provided to NASA Glenn Research Center. The full-day tour includes approximately six research facilities, a break for lunch and a visit to the NASA Glenn gift shop. At the end of the tour, the buses will return to GLSC. The event will conclude at approximately 5 p.m.
  • Do I need to commit to the full day?
    Yes. All tour participants must be willing and available to participate in the full-day tour beginning at approximately 8 a.m. and lasting until 5 p.m. If you are unable to commit to the full-day tour, your ticket is transferrable to another eligible adult before it is activated in the online registration system.  
  • Is food provided or available for purchase?
    Plans are being developed to make food available for purchase. Detailed information on lunch options will be provided in the confirmation communications.
  • Will there be ADA (disability) accommodations on the tour?
    Yes, you may identify any special needs during online registration. Detailed instructions will be provided to guests who request ADA accommodations.
  • Where do I park and what is the cost?
    Parking will be available in the garage adjacent to the Great Lakes Science Center. Detailed parking instructions will be provided in the confirmation communications.