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Goddard Visitor Center

An excitedly smiling child appears silhouetted in profile against the backdrop of an image of the Sun, its surface curving across the screen from left to right and a bright yellow loop erupting from its red and yellow swirling surface. Space is black behind the Sun, and the Sun's corona appears as a diffuse red glow along its edge.

Welcome to your friendly neighborhood space flight center!

The visitor center showcases Goddard’s innovative and exciting work in Earth science, astrophysics, heliophysics, planetary science, engineering, communications and technology development. Activities, exhibits and events at the Goddard Visitor Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, provide inspiring and captivating educational experiences for all ages.

Only 30 minutes from Washington, D.C.; Baltimore; and Annapolis, Maryland, the visitor center gives you the opportunity to explore the universe in your own backyard.

Visits are free of charge. For more information on the Goddard Visitor Center, browse this website, call 301-286-8981 or email GSFC-VisitorCenter@mail.nasa.gov. You may also sign up for the visitor center’s events mailing list by emailing goddard-visitor-center-programs@lists.nasa.gov.

Hours of Operation

Starting Oct. 1, 2024, our new hours are:

Sunday, Monday – Closed
Tuesday, Wednesday – School/Group Programming Appointments Only**

Thursday, Friday – 10am-3pm

Saturday – 12pm-4pm

The Goddard Visitor Center is closed on all federal holidays, including Dec. 26-27, 2024.

** Tuesday and Wednesday are appointment only. Please contact the visitor center staff to schedule an appointment.

Please note that visitor center hours are subject to change. If you have a question, please call 301-286-8981.

NOTE: If NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center is closed due to inclement weather, the visitor center will be closed as well.

Gift Shop

The Goddard Employee Welfare Association operates a gift shop, which is located next to the Visitor Center, in Greenbelt, Md., off Route 193 and ICESat Road. The Goddard Gift Shop is open Tuesday-Saturday. For more information about store hours, call 301-286-6476.

Permanent Exhibits

Learn more about the permanent displays and exhibits at the NASA Goddard Visitor Center!

Learn More about Permanent Exhibits
A colorful museum exhibit depicting the Sun as a large, horizontal circle with orange "orbits" and loops surrounding it, mounted on a gracefully curved white pillar. Large windows with visible sky and trees are in the background.

Learn More and Get Involved

A young girl with a long blond ponytail and black T-shirt faces away from the camera, watching a small model rocket lift off from its launch pad. The rocket is behind yellow caution tape, and a thin stream of white smoke billows out from its end into a small white cloud underneath as it shoots diagonally up toward the upper right corner of the image. The grass between the child and the rocket is green, and the background is dense, dark green trees.

Virtual Field Trips

Explore the Goddard Visitor Center's field trip experiences from your home or classroom.

aerial view of Goddard Greenbelt campus showing buildings surrounded by greenery

Events and Programs

Model rockets, Ask A Scientist, and so much more!

aerial view of a low-slung office building with a circular concrete sidewalk behind it, featuring a tall Delta A rocket in its center, with green grass and trees surrounding

Driving Directions

Where we're at and how to get here!

Field Trips and Facility Tours

Facility tours and in-person programs are available to school, community and cultural groups Tuesday through Friday with prior reservation.

A photo of three cutouts of white astronaut suits, with open circles where the helmets should be. The cutouts are designed for people of different sizes to stand behind the cutouts and look through the holes, so it looks as if they are "wearing" astronaut suits. The three cutouts stand in a lobby, in front of a wall sign with the NASA logo and "Goddard Space Flight Center".

Exhibits for Loan

Goddard exhibits and displays available for loan to school and community groups and other educational organizations, as well as Goddard employees.

Featured Video

The Goddard Visitor Center

Take a peek at what’s going on at the Goddard Visitor Center as we welcome guests to come in and explore!

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