Skip the Line: US Space and Rocket Center Admission Ticket

The U.S. Space and Rocket Center is a sprawling campus of exhibits and attractions adjacent to Redstone Arsenal, where so much of the country's rocket and spacecraft research has been done. Unfortunately, I arrived just before 4:00 PM, so I only had about an hour to explore. Thankfully, the lady at the ticket counter gave me a discount and told me where to go to see the highlights. I started at the Saturn V Hall. While there is a replica of the rocket standing upright outside the building, seeing the Saturn V Dynamic Test Vehicle inside gives you a better idea of the size of the gigantic rocket. There are numerous displays and artifacts about the development of the space program from early Redstone rockets to the Space Shuttle, including the actual Apollo 16 Command Module. Outside is a cool rocket park, and in the large main building are many other galleries and interactive attractions. While I wasn't able to see everything, I found the Science on Orbit exhibit particularly interesting. It focuses on the mechanics, experiments, and daily life aboard the International Space Station. Overall, this is a fantastic space museum well worth a visit--even if it's a short one!

This is great for young and old. The space center has it all for space nuts. This place has many hands on things for all age kids

The space museum was great. You will love it. We did the simulation rides first. It does get crowded. It well worth the time and money. We were there almost 5 hours.

We really enjoyed the center. Outside of the Space Museum in Washington DC, we haven't seen anything like it. We opted to see the planetarium and fully enjoyed it. Nice that they have popcorn available to view with. The place is big. Plan on several hours to see everything. I like how they reached out to appeal to all audiences. The toys from the 1960's reflecting space were particularly appealing. The history was nicely laid out. Loved being able to walk at our own pace. The Mars cafe was pretty decent with a lot of selection. I love that they have rides for kids and enough to keep them interested. For some of us, this was a trip down memory lane when the space age was explored. Everyone should see this.

First, the website has not been updated since Covid and is confusing. There are "timed" tickets shown and when called the Center said that you can enter at any time as that is "just a leftover from Covid". Update the website! It was also unclear if you can leave and return on the same day ticket, or whether you could reenter the next day in the event of a late entry on the day of your ticket. Getting someone live on the phone is difficult. Secondly, the main exhibit hall on entry from the ticketing area is dark and very sparse. I recall visiting 30 years ago and that hall was bright and vibrant with more exhibits. A portion of the hall is being prepped for new exhibits and was closed. I only hope it is a major improvement. The newer Davidson Center with the Saturn V inside is the star of the museum. Most of the items worth the visit are inside such as the Saturn V stack, the instrumentation ring, some Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo era trainers, the Apollo 16 Command Module, and one of two remaining actual quarantine trailers. We had a tour guide at 10 AM that gave us an excellent one hour talk. Even my 9 yr old twins lasted to the end! The kids loved the Planetarium which used to be the IMAX theatre, but is now a staff-hosted live show. The outdoor exhibits have a rundown appearance with paint peeling from the outdoor models, and ancient-looking rides -- with the exception of the huge standing Saturn V model in front of the Davidson Center. Overall, we enjoyed the visit but don't expect a comprehensive spaceflight history on display. The focus, understandably I suppose, is on the aspects of the space program that were managed at MSFC such as Redstone and Saturn V vehicles. Don't expect much coverage of Soviet/Russian history or the US Space Shuttle history. There are models of the ISS modules in the Space Camp areas which can be open for visitors to tour when not in use.

The US Space and Rocket Center was an important part of my childhood. In the past decade I have taken my kids almost yearly since they were old enough to appreciate it. However during our most recent trip I was very disappointed in the overall experience. I understand that everything has gotten more expensive for everyone thanks to inflation. But, not only was the base admission significantly higher than the last time we visited, attractions that were previously included with the base ticket price now cost an extra $10 per person for EACH attraction. And on top of that, several exhibits were closed or undergoing renovation. At least the Moon Shot and G-Force rides were still free... my kids made good use of those. But I don't know if or when we will go again - it's no longer worth the expense.

The Center is a large campus with many opportunities for learning. Much is aimed at children, and there were a large number of school class visits while we were there. Be prepared for some walking. There are many exhibits of rocket and space hardware and a good history of the space race of the mid to late 20th century. The Saturn V hall is full of such exhibits, dominated by the huge full size mock-up of the Saturn V rocket that took men to the moon. We also did the virtual reality experience which puts you in Apollo 11, the first manned moon landing in 1969, which was almost like actually being there. Many of the optional activities require additional fees. We had the opportunity to spend time with a retired NASA manager who answered many of our questions and had many recollections and first-hand stories about the US space program's development and history. That personal perspective was very valuable. If you have a chance to engage with one of the docents like him, take it.

This was such a cool experience for kids and adults alike! They had so many awesome exhibits that were well designed and super informative. Our group was particularly interested in the drone exhibit that they had when we were there in addition to being wowed by all the rockets and interactive features throughout the museum. You can pay for additional experiences, like the planetarium or zero gravity rides. We didn't, but loved walking through and witnessing other people do them! It was a little crowded and space camp was going on, so there were a lot of kids. But that didn't hinder our experience at all. This is a must see if you are visiting!

This was our third visit to this attraction and i noticed some changes since the last time over a decade ago. One major change is the increased price for admission so if it has been a while since your last visit be prepared. This time we visited when the facility opened and it was already very busy. An early afternoon visit might be better for that. If you are vaccinated you do not need to wear a mask. It seems that the IMAX theater now features planetarium programs. Check times for the one that may interest you. The cafe is large and has a good selection and adequate seating. There is also a picnic area nearby. My favorite park, as always, is the rocket park so try not to miss that weather permitting.

The exhibits were great, even for someone non-scientific like myself (a history major), and the hands-on exhibits helped explain some technical things like thrust, etc. The fact that my father-in-law worked for Martin Company who supplied components for the rockets, gave it deeper meaning for my husband. The indoor and outdoor exhibits gave us a full picture of the American space program.