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Thursday 10am - 3pm Friday 10am - 3pm Saturday 12pm - 4pm

NASA Goddard Visitor Center

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NASA Goddard Visitor Center

Come browse the unique, informative exhibits, or participate in one of the monthly model rocket launches.
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Only 30 minutes from Washington, D.C., Baltimore, and Annapolis, don’t miss this chance to explore the universe in your own backyard! Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, MD was established in 1959 as NASA's first center devoted to the exploration of space. It is named after Dr. Robert Goddard, "The Father of American Rocketry." Home to the world's largest group of scientists and engineers, G

oddard's mission is to expand our knowledge of Earth, the solar system, and the universe through observations from space and through scientific discovery.

05/18/2026

The Goddard Visitor Center has in-person volunteer opportunities for high school students this summer! Opportunities include providing demonstrations and assisting with weekday programs and weekend events. If you are at least 16 years old and are interested in volunteering at the visitor center, please email Amanda Harvey, public engagement coordinator, at [email protected] by Monday, June 1 at 5 p.m. Please include your name, age and grade during this school year, as well as a short paragraph describing why you are interested in volunteering. If selected for an interview, students should anticipate a virtual interview on Friday, June 5 or Saturday, June 6, and, if selected for the volunteer program, will need to be available for a required training session on Saturday, June 13, 1 - 3 p.m.

05/12/2026

Mission: Experiment – NOAA’s Low Earth Orbit Weather Satellites: From Launches to Forecasts

Join us this Saturday, May 16, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Goddard Visitor Center for this month’s Mission: Experiment presentation – NOAA’s Low Earth Orbit Weather Satellites: From Launches to Forecasts. This free, family-friendly event will showcase NASA’s partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to build and launch NOAA weather satellites that fuel our three- to five-day weather forecasts. Participants will engage with hands-on activities to learn about NOAA’s current and future Low Earth Orbit (LEO) weather satellites, including the large Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) and the small, experimental QuickSounder satellite expected to launch within a year.

For more information and directions to the visitor center, visit: https://www.nasa.gov/goddard/visitor-center/events-and-programs/ or call 301-286-8981.

05/08/2026

We hope you had a great time last Saturday at our 50th anniversary celebration! To keep celebrating, we would love to see photos of YOU over the years from your visits to the Visitor Center! Share them in the comments or just tell us your favorite memories!

05/07/2026

Mission: Experiment – NOAA’s Low Earth Orbit Weather Satellites: From Launches to Forecasts

Join us Saturday, May 16, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Goddard Visitor Center for this month’s Mission: Experiment presentation – NOAA’s Low Earth Orbit Weather Satellites: From Launches to Forecasts. This free, family-friendly event will showcase NASA’s partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to build and launch NOAA weather satellites that fuel our three- to five-day weather forecasts. Participants will engage with hands-on activities to learn about NOAA’s current and future Low Earth Orbit (LEO) weather satellites, including the large Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) and the small, experimental QuickSounder satellite expected to launch within a year.

For more information and directions to the visitor center, visit: https://www.nasa.gov/goddard/visitor-center/events-and-programs/ or call 301-286-8981.

05/06/2026

Grow with Goddard
Thursday, May 21, 9 - 10 a.m.

Join us for activities and demonstrations for ages 3-5 here at our visitor center during a special morning hour before we open to the public. This month's program is about planets!

Registration is required for each child participant. Parents and guardians do not need to register, but at least one parent or guardian must be on-site for the program. Registration information can be found at https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/nasa-goddard-visitor-center-3091729. Please call 301-286-8981 for more information.

05/01/2026

Celebrate with us tomorrow from 1 - 3 p.m.!

04/27/2026

The Goddard Visitor Center in Greenbelt will celebrate its 50th anniversary with a public, family-friendly event this Saturday, May 2, from 1 to 3 p.m. (rescheduled from May 9). Hands-on activities will focus on the visitor center’s exhibits, and presentations will provide an overview of Goddard and its many missions. The visitor center’s monthly model rocket launch will also take place. Please call 301-286-8981 for more information.

Visit https://www.nasa.gov/goddard/visitor-center/events-and-programs/ for a list of upcoming events at the visitor center.

04/21/2026

MICA Student "Astro-Animations" Film Screenings
Thursday, April 23, 12 pm

Brought to you by Maryland Institute College of Art Astro-Animators in conjunction with scientists at NASA Goddard, MICA students will debut their new animations with you and discuss their process for creating these masterpieces. After the screenings, students will host a question and answer session.

Please call 301-286-8981 for more information.

04/20/2026

Blast off With Books: Moon Trees
Saturday, April 25, 1 - 3 p.m.

Blast off with books THIS SATURDAY! Join us as we learn about Moon trees by exploring “Izzy and Dee – The Moon Trees” with author Izzy House. We will hold a reading of a book excerpt and other activities. You can also start your own visit log with the visitor center’s Moon tree! Please note that book copies will not be available on-site, but you are allowed to bring your own copy. Registration is not required for this free, family-friendly event. For more information, call 301-286-8981.

04/15/2026

Blast off With Books: Moon Trees
Saturday, April 25, 1 - 3 p.m.

Blast off with books! Join us as we learn about Moon trees by exploring “Izzy and Dee – The Moon Trees” with author Izzy House. We will hold a reading of a book excerpt and other activities. You can also start your own visit log with the visitor center’s Moon tree! Please note that book copies will not be available on-site, but you are allowed to bring your own copy. Registration is not required for this free, family-friendly event. For more information, call 301-286-8981.

Address

ICESat Road
Greenbelt, MD
20771

Opening Hours

Thursday	10am - 3pm
Friday	10am - 3pm
Saturday	12pm - 4pm

Telephone

+13012868981

Website

http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/visitor/home/index.html

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