Space Center Houston Hosts Watch Party for Crew Dragon Splashdown

HOUSTON, TX - Space Center Houston, the Official Visitor Center of NASA Johnson Space Center, welcomes guests to a special viewing of the SpaceX Dragon Endeavour splashdown on Sunday, Aug. 2. Experience the live streamed splashdown event of NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley returning from the International Space Station while social distancing with fellow space enthusiasts.

Take part in interactive Pop-up Science Labs to learn about the splashdown process, spacesuits and more. Space Center Houston opens at 10 a.m. and the splashdown is targeted for 1:42 p.m. CT. After the historic Demo-2 launch in May, the return of Crew Dragon on its Demo-2 test flight signifies the close of a mission designed to test SpaceX’s human spaceflight system, including launch, docking, splashdown, and recovery operations.

Make it a full day of exploration. Walk underneath the new permanent outdoor exhibit, a flown SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. It is the only Falcon 9 on public display outside of SpaceX’s headquarters and is the same type of rocket that was used in the Demo-2 mission, marking the first time since 2011 that astronauts launched from American soil. Guests can also take a tour of the spacious Independence Plaza exhibit, the only place you can walk inside a shuttle replica mounted on top of the historic shuttle carrier aircraft NASA 905.

Experience new live shows in open spaces and a new “Apollo 13: Failure is not an option” exhibit summarizing the mission as it unfolded. Board the NASA Tram Tour to Rocket Park and see the enormous Apollo Saturn V rocket. Download the free Space Center Houston mobile app to select a new NASA Tram Tour virtual boarding pass to board the tram tour during your visit.

A new guest journey experience, dubbed Mission Exploration, engages guests to learn about science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers supporting the space program. This interactive guest journey provides insight into museum artifacts through the lens of the individuals working at NASA, plus guests can earn a mission badge through the Space Center Houston app.

The nonprofit is committed to providing a safe and sanitized environment. New protocols in place include timed admission tickets; required face coverings for guests ages two and older, as well as crew members; social distancing practices; special hours for vulnerable populations from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Tuesdays; a new touchless entry with self-scan turnstiles; increased hand sanitizer stations; Plexiglass shields at ticket counters; enhanced daily cleaning; and a deep sanitize to all surfaces is conducted center-wide nightly. To plan your visit, review the Know Before You Go Guide at spacecenter.org.

For timed admission tickets to Space Center Houston, visit spacecenter.org. Parking fees will be waived for a limited time. Ticket prices range from $24.95 for children (ages 4-11) to $29.95 for adults (12 and older) with discounts for seniors and members of the military. All Space Center Houston experiences are subject to change while the center continues to monitor state and local health and safety guidelines.