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Events and Public Programs

Participate in free events and activities at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility Visitor Center!

Hundreds of people stand in lines on the beach waiting their turn to look through telescopes at an astronomy event, above them the cloudy streaks of the milky way are surrounded by thousands of bright stars.

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.

Guests of all ages speak with sounding rocket subject matter experts at the Wallops Visitor Center
Guests speak with subject matter experts from the Sounding Rocket Program Office at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility during a visitor center event.
Courtesy of Nicole Peirson

June

Wings Over Wallops

Friday, June 12 and Saturday, June 13
Visitor Center Hours: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Special Gate Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Hands-On Activities: 10 a.m. to Noon

Eyes on the sky! It’s airshow time! 

Join us Friday, June 12 and Saturday, June 13 to catch a host of aircraft arriving and departing NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility for the Air Dot Show Ocean City! Bring your chair and grab a spot on Visitor Center grounds and watch the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, Patrouille de France, F-35 Lightning II Demo Team, and more flying in and out of the Wallops Airfield on their way to show center in Ocean City, Maryland.

Stop inside the Visitor Center between 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to explore our exhibit hall. Hands-on activities will be held inside from 10 a.m. to noon during both days.

Friday, June 12 – Practice Day: Flights may take place between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Times subject to change!

Saturday, June 13 – Show Day 1: Expect to see flights between 11:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Weather dependent.

NOTE: Visitor Center grounds will NOT open for Sunday, June 14 (final airshow performance date).

Gate Hours: Visitor Center gates/grounds will be open for an extended period of time on Friday and Saturday only — 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (The Visitor Center’s exhibit hall & gift shop will operate on normal hours: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.)

Wings Over Wallops flyer with black text over blue sky and a graphic of an aircraft. June 12 and 13 for visitors to NASA Wallops Visitor Center able to bring chairs and watch from grounds with hands-on activities inside. Gates open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
NASA/Olivia Littleton

 RockOn-RockSat Launch Viewing

Wednesday, June 24, 2026 (Backup Day Thursday, June 25, 2026)

Mission: RockOn / RockSat 

Launch Date: June 24-25, 2026

Launch Window: 5:30-9:30 a.m. (Subject to change. Check the Wallops Launch Schedule for the most up-to-date launch information.)

Launch Location: Wallops Island, Virginia

Viewing Location: NASA Wallops Visitor Center Launch Viewing Area

Gates Open: Visitor Center gates will open one hour prior to the start of the window and will remain open until the lot is full. Limited parking onsite: carpooling recommended. No parking along Route 175. 

Description:RockOn / RockSat are hands-on programs that connect higher education students and faculty from across the United States with an opportunity to design, build, and fly their experiments into space on a Terrier-Improved Malemute sounding rocket from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.

Viewing Tips: Click here for tips on how to best view a rocket launch. 

Flyer for a Rocket Launch Viewing with NASA Wallops Visitor Center, June 25, 2026 from 5:30-9:30 a.m. The flyer has a photo of a sounding rocket launching off a rail against a dark blue sky.
NASA

Space Fossils

Saturday, June 27, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Join us for a thrilling journey into planetary science as we celebrate World Asteroid Day! Discover the secrets of our cosmic neighborhood, explore how space rocks shape not only our world, but our local geography, and learn what it takes to protect Earth from cosmic impacts.

With hands-on exploration, guests can simulate asteroid impacts, experiment with crater-making, and explore the physics of space rocks through interactive activities.

Special guest presentation at 11 a.m.

We are honored to welcome USGS research geologist David Powars, of the Chesapeake Bay Impact Crater — the largest known impact crater in the United States. David will share the fascinating detective story of how he uncovered this massive, 35-million-year-old cosmic collision buried right beneath our region.

Perfect for space enthusiasts, families, and curious minds of all ages!

Black asteroid with burning tail in center of flyer against space background with Space Fossils in glowing yellow curved text, including text: presentation by special guest David Powars, June 27 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at NASA Wallops Visitor Center.
NASA/Daniel McGill

July

Illuminating the Dark Universe: Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope

A look at the science and story behind the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, NASA’s next major observatory set to reshape our understanding of the universe. The exhibit highlights Roman’s powerful wide‑field infrared vision, its mission to investigate dark energy, and its ability to capture sweeping cosmic panoramas hundreds of times larger than those from previous space telescopes. Visitors can explore interactive displays that explain how the telescope will map galaxies, study exoplanets, and continue the legacy of Dr. Nancy Grace Roman, NASA’s “Mother of Hubble.” Designed for learners of all ages, the experience blends hands‑on discovery with inspiring visuals, offering a close look at the technology and ambition driving one of NASA’s most exciting upcoming missions.

A colorful NASA event poster featuring an illustrated Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope emerging from an open book, surrounded by galaxies, satellites, and glowing cosmic rings. The text announces an event titled ‘Illuminating the Dark Universe,’ scheduled for Saturday, July 25, 10 a.m.–12 p.m., with a special presentation at 10:30 a.m., held at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility Visitor Center in Wallops Island, Virginia.
NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope takes center stage in a vibrant poster for the ‘Illuminating the Dark Universe’ event at Wallops Flight Facility
NASA/Daniel McGill
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