So, gather your space crew and get ready to make memories that shine as bright as the stars at these upcoming events:

Galaxy Lights, presented by Wellby Financial, Member Preview Night – November 14

Start the holiday season with an evening of wonder! Be among the first to experience Galaxy Lights during this exclusive members-only preview.

Stroll through the breathtaking space-themed light display before it opens to the public and enjoy:

• Complimentary s’mores by the fire
• Festive, family-friendly craft activities and door prizes
• Magical photo ops that capture the spirit of the season

Whether you’re coming with family, friends, or your favorite co-pilot, this is your only chance to enjoy Galaxy Lights for just $10 on Preview Night and 20% off all season long.

Space News & Brews – December 6

Warm up your December with good company, great conversation, and craft brews at the final Space News & Brews of 2025 hosted at Galveston Bay Brewing, featuring NASA astronaut Brian Duffy.

Your ticket includes:

• One beverage ticket
• Complimentary bites
• A lithograph of Brian Duffy
• Photo & autograph opportunities
• Plus, members receive a limited-edition collectible pint glass

It’s the perfect night out for curious minds and space enthusiasts alike.

Stars & STEM: A Cosmic Holiday – December 7

Join us for a full day of discovery and delight during our first-ever Member Stars & STEM Day: A Cosmic Holiday! This stellar celebration invites explorers of all ages to learn, play and connect through hands-on workshops, an inspiring tram tour, a special appearance by a real astronaut and complimentary admission to Galaxy Lights.

It’s a universe of fun—and a reminder that curiosity is the best gift of all.

Member Moments to Look Forward To

Keep your membership handy for even more exclusive perks and events coming in 2026:

• Member Appreciation Month – February 2026: Celebrate a full month of appreciation featuring two Member Mornings, our Member Appreciation Party and exclusive discounts all month long!
• Moon 2 Mars Festival, presented by Wellby Financial – March 2026: Plan your spring break for an interstellar experience! Explore the Moon 2 Mars Festival with live music, space technology demonstrations, tasty food and cosmic adventures for the whole family.

Plus, enjoy these year-round benefits every visit:

• Express entry for members
• Early access on peak days
• Monthly Member Mornings (every 2nd Saturday)

Celebrate the Season and Share the Wonder!

Your Space Center Houston membership makes it all possible — bringing unforgettable experiences, cosmic adventures and a community that’s as inspiring as the universe itself.

This holiday season, share the wonder! Give the gift of membership and let someone special experience out-of-this-world memories all year long.

The post Making Space for Wonder This Season with Your Membership appeared first on Space Center Houston.

Astronaut Days Weekend 

We launched Astronaut August with Astronaut Days hosted by public programs. This two-day event was packed with interactive space-related activities, astronaut presentations, a puzzle mural with brain teasers, radiation pop-up labs where you created your own bookmark, an interactive tech wall for all ages, and Lunar Outpost was present, raffling off exclusive Lego sets! This once-a-year weekend event was not just about fun, but also about learning firsthand about the incredible journey of living and working in space.   

Touch the Stars with José Hernández Weekend 

One of the most memorable weekends in August was our exclusive “Touch the Stars with José Hernández” event. We were honored to welcome former NASA astronaut José Hernández for a weekend packed with inspiration and meaningful engagement for members only. The weekend kicked off with a special screening of “A Million Miles Away,” followed by a live interview with José Hernández, moderated by our CEO, William T. Harris. Members. It was enthralling to hear José’s remarkable journey, from migrant farmworker to astronaut, during the interview, and his passion for inspiring an interest in STEM in communities everywhere. 

Members who attended our VIP experience that night enjoyed:

• Complimentary hors d’oeuvres and cocktails
• A personal meet-and-greet with José Hernández
• A professional photo opportunity with José Hernández
• A personalized member gift bundle that included:
• A signed copy of one of his books
• A member-exclusive pin
• A commemorative lithograph
• A printed keepsake photo with José Hernández

Our general members’ reception was just as special, offering:

• Complimentary hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar
• José Hernández book sales at our gift shop
• A commemorative lithograph
• autographs and photo opportunities with José Hernández

The following morning, the inspiration continued with Sunrise Social, a delicious all-you-can-eat brunch, where Hernández gave a special presentation, followed by more photo ops and meet-and-greets.

Following that, we wrapped up the weekend with two free readings of his children’s book by José Hernández, one in English and one in Spanish, followed by interactive Q&A and autograph sessions. Kids were treated to free Mini Melts ice cream and walked away beaming with inspiration. 

This entire weekend was deeply moving, humble, and greatly appreciated by our member community. We would like to offer more premium events like this in the future! 

New Member Thank You Party

We closed out Astronaut August with our biggest event yet: the New Member Thank You Party, which welcomed over 850 members!

Highlights of the evening included:

• Meet-and-greets with NASA astronauts Mike Baker, Jerry Ross, and Mike Foreman
• A planetarium experience
• Lunar Samples Vault tours with Paul Spana, our Director of Collections and Curator
• Independence Plaza tours with Irwin Stewart, our Senior Donor Engagement Assistant
• NASA Alumni League sharing personal stories of space exploration and artifacts

Members also enjoyed: 

• Free Mini Melts 
• Complimentary Member Crew swag 
• Free access to our Simulator and VR experiences 
• Tons of hands-on activities for all ages 

It was a spectacular way to conclude a month full of space, science, and community. 

Thank You, Members!  

Thank you to all our members who made Astronaut August such a success. Your participation and enthusiasm made Astronaut August a resounding experience. You make a difference here every day. We are deeply grateful for your support and look forward to many more inspiring events with you.  

Mark your calendars! 

Join us during these upcoming Member Events!  

Monthly Member Mornings 

• October 11 – Space Center Birthday Celebration 
  • Get a glimpse of our Explorer Camps and Overnight programs while celebrating our Opening Day of our center 
• November 8 – National STEM Day 
  • Highlighting our education programs as well as STEM activities 
• December 13 – Launch The Holidays 
  • Highlighting our Space U programs and the holiday season 

Membership Events 

Discovery Briefing│Far Ultraviolet Camera/Spectrograph – Friday, October 3 
Galaxy Lights Member Preview Night – Friday, November 14 
Space News and Brews – December 6^th at Saloon Door in Webster, TX 
Stars and STEM: Our Amazing Solar System – Sunday, December 7 

Our next big Member Month will be February 2026, with many exclusive events happening for Member Appreciation Month! We can’t wait to celebrate with you again. 

Not a member yet? Now’s the perfect time to join and be part of our exciting community! Your membership supports our mission to educate and inspire, provides student and educator learning opportunities, and gives you year-round access to exclusive benefits and events. 

Join today and be part of something extraordinary. 

The post Member Exclusive: Astronaut August Recap appeared first on Space Center Houston.

Membership benefits let you go beyond the exhibits with perks that elevate every experience, like skipping the lines, getting early access and scoring invites to exclusive events you won’t find anywhere else. Whether you’re exploring with friends, family, or that one space-loving person in your life, membership pays for itself in just two visits—while giving you more value and moments that truly matter.

Spark Wonder Together Through Our Membership Benefits

At Space Center Houston, members embark on adventures fueled by imagination, discovery and excitement. With unlimited general admission and free parking every visit, you can drop in anytime to enjoy a journey through humankind’s voyages to the Moon on the big screen, hop on a tram tour to explore NASA’s working facilities or spend a day immersed in the awe of space.

Your membership benefits unlock early entry on peak days, Member Mornings on the second Saturday of each month and exclusive discounts on Explorer Camps, Space U© and Overnight Experiences. It’s the perfect way to keep young minds inspired while creating meaningful memories as a family.

Make Every Outing an Experience

Why settle for the usual when you can make your plans stellar? Membership turns a casual weekend into a spontaneous space adventure. Skip the lines, revisit your favorite exhibits, and dive deeper into space science with member-only events like Discovery Briefings and special experiences such as the Touch the Stars weekend with NASA astronaut José Hernández.

Whether it’s a one-of-a-kind date night or a fun group outing, you’ll enjoy perks like 20% off Galaxy Lights tickets, discounts at The Food Lab and Gift Shop and the ability to bring friends along with discounted general admission tickets. Just show up, explore and let the cosmos do the rest.

Membership Benefits That Elevate Every Visit

Whether you’re exploring with your family, partner, or weekend crew, these membership benefits give you more of what makes every visit meaningful, memorable and hassle-free, including: 

• Free general admission for 12 months—visit as often as you like
• Free parking every visit—more adventures, fewer fees
• Express entry + early access on busy days—start your experience sooner
• Monthly Member Mornings—enjoy a quieter, more personal way to explore
• Invites to exclusive events like Discovery Briefings
• 20% off Galaxy Lights tickets to make your holidays extra special
• 10% off food, gift shop purchases and souvenir photography
• Priority access and discounts on education programs like Explorer Camps, Overnight Experiences & Space U©
• Discounted general admission tickets, perfect for bringing friends along
• Free registration for Home School Days
• A members-only newsletter to keep you connected to what’s next

Ready to Explore?

From awe-inspiring exhibits to moments that bring you closer, Space Center Houston is where curiosity and connection come together. Membership makes it easy to discover, learn and create unforgettable experiences all year long.

Become a member and start your year of unforgettable experiences.

The post Your Backstage Pass to Space: Perks, Access & Awe-Inspiring Experiences appeared first on Space Center Houston.

Become a member with code MBRECLIPSE to get 10% off your membership today and enjoy FREE access to this once-in-a-lifetime celestial event.   

Celebrate the total solar eclipse with complimentary eclipse glasses and special giveaways. Plus, members will experience the celestial phenomenon with an unobstructed view, participate in interactive activities, and watch live artwork by local Houston artist, GONZO247.

Year-long perks for members:

• Free general admission & express entry 
• Free parking on every visit 
• Exclusive invites to members-only events 
• Discounts on tours, gift shop merchandise & more  
• Priority registration for STEM-Education programs 
• Member Morning events with early entry

Don’t miss out, become a member today!

The post The Future of Space Exploration is Bright. Got Shades? Become a Space Center Houston Member Today appeared first on Space Center Houston.

Upon discovering the numerous events, lectures, presentations, and more that are provided as part of the membership benefits at Space Center Houston, Christina became a member. Her favorite benefit is the Monthly Member Morning, where she can enjoy free hours of early access to the center every second Saturday of the month. “I love that you can arrive before regular hours and enjoy going through the exhibits. I feel less rushed on a Member Morning and can really take my time to explore Space Center Houston to the fullest,” Christina mentioned as she reminisced about her past attendance.

As a member, Christina has participated in numerous events and has discovered fulfilling and informative experiences. She had the opportunity to hear Fred Haise, Apollo 13 Astronaut, speak about his career beyond Apollo and his personal role in the creation of the International Space Station (I.S.S.). She also learned about the James Webb Space Telescope during Galaxy Lights and was presented with incredible images from the telescope’s time in space. Christina was left mesmerized by the universe and its mysteries.

When asked about how her view of space exploration has changed since becoming a member, Christina expressed her admiration of the human capacity for innovation and exploration, which has always been the hallmark of our greatest achievements. She acknowledged that the journey of space exploration is a testament to our never-ending quest for knowledge and our unwavering spirit of discovery. She also recognized how we have relentlessly pushed the boundaries of science and technology, leading to remarkable results. “Looking at the technology from the early missions to today shows how much we have learned, adapted and created. There is so much from space exploration that has bled into normal life in so many facets including healthcare.”

Christina’s experiences at Space Center Houston exemplify the excitement and curiosity that underpins humanity’s desire to explore and innovate. Her membership has allowed her to delve deeper into her passion for space exploration and connect with others who share her interests. Space Center Houston is a hub for knowledge, inspiration, and discovery — a place where visitors can learn about the history and future of space exploration.

The post Member Spotlight | Christina Lanham appeared first on Space Center Houston.

At an early age, Crew was motivated by Alan Shepard’s maiden voyage in Freedom 7, the Mercury spacecraft, to pursue a career in aviation. This inspiration first led him to join United Airlines as a customer service representative. During this time, he also worked with Dial-a-Shuttle, an AT&T service that allowed the caller to listen to the commentary that was happening onboard the space shuttle when in flight. As he continued to work in the space industry and learn more about human space flight, his love for industry only grew and evolved a longing to be more involved. Upon his well-deserved retirement, his wife encouraged him to stay engaged in the space industry that he loved so much by seeking out volunteer opportunities to inspire other young minds who might someday pursue aeronautics. Lucky for Space Center Houston that Crew found a place to connect his lifelong love of space with us as a volunteer.

Crew has volunteered at Space Center Houston for many years. Over this time, he’s become quite passionate about volunteering, too, because, he says, he loves inspiring children and adults to learn more about the space industry’s past and present. With the launch of Artemis and the continuing success of the SpaceX program, Crew says, “Kids are becoming more aware of the space program. Just the idea of exploration on the Moon is extremely positive.”

Since the launch of Space Center Houston’s revamped membership program, which provides members access to unique opportunities to continue to explore and celebrate space and science, Crew has been a volunteer and a Patron-level member. While enjoying participation in both the Apollo 11 and Apollo 17 50th anniversary celebrations, Crew says one of his favorite membership perks to date was his trip to NASA’s Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory, which he visited during a Discovery Briefing.

Space Center Houston is proud to spotlight Crew and his commitment to continue contributing to space and science learning. He is an outstanding example of why we love our members, and we are grateful for his support of our vision to bring people and space closer together. A love for space exploration – at any age – can accomplish many things but making a significant impact on the continuing need to inspire the next generation of scientists, explorers and innovators is among the most noble.

The post Member Spotlight | Peter Crew appeared first on Space Center Houston.

In August 2009, an article in Texas Highways magazine caught my attention. The article, “Fly Me to the Moon,” described the Level 9 Tour and its hours-long behind-the-scenes look at the work of NASA Johnson Space Center — and I was hooked. I’ve been an avid space nerd since well before I bought my first paperback book of sci-fi stories when I was in the 8th grade (I still have that little book).

The Level 9 Tour, now called the NASA VIP Tour, begins and ends at Space Center Houston. So, when I went to my Level 9 experience and I stepped inside Space Center Houston for the first time, I knew I was home.

I visited so many times that it finally became much more cost-effective to simply become a member! By then I’d also decided that Space Center Houston was going to be the one place where I’d invest most of my museum-going time and energy. Being a member allows me to take advantage of an impressive range of experiences, from special briefings to space-related movies to constantly changing exhibits and more. Being a member also makes it so convenient to visit anytime.

I upgraded my membership to take advantage of the Discovery Briefings series and the Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC) Passport program. It’s hard to choose a favorite member benefit between those two, but I guess ASTC Passport wins out because it has allowed me to visit many science centers across the country and broaden my horizons.

I’ve participated in many member events over the years. My experience at these events has been uniformly positive. The staff is welcoming and well-informed, the programs run on time and I’ve been able to hear stories from all kinds of people who are involved in space exploration, including astronauts and flight directors. Every single event reinforces my belief that Space Center Houston is an outstanding institution.

Space exploration has given us technologies that could – and eventually will – benefit everyone on the planet. It has influenced art, literature, movies, travel, and many other fields. Space exploration has caused us to look more carefully at our little planet and renew our commitment to take care of it. My membership is therefore one small contribution I can make for the future of the human race.

I’ve learned that space exploration involves all of us and needs all of us, whether our talents are in photography or writing, engineering or manufacturing, food science or finance, or almost any other field. There’s a place in space for everybody.

The post Member Spotlight | Sandy Wilder appeared first on Space Center Houston.

Carter first visited Space Center Houston during a company celebration held there in 2013. During her visit, she became enamored with the multitude of artifacts on display; one of these caught her attention more than the others.

“One, in particular, was Judith Resnik’s [space] suit. I was a senior electrical engineering student when she was killed on-board the space shuttle Challenger. She was a female electrical engineer like I would become and because of this, her loss really hit me hard. When my daughter attended Carnegie Mellon University in Pennsylvania, her dorm was Resnik hall. I remember taking a picture of the suit and sending it to my daughter.”

This coincidence fostered her passion for space learning and education, which led to Carter soon becoming a member with Space Center Houston.

Carter reflects fondly upon the decision to become a member stating, “The main reason to be a member is to support what Space Center Houston does for the community. Space Center Houston inspires children of all ages to love [science, technology, engineering, and math] STEM regardless of whether they can pay.”

Carter enjoys many benefits that her membership provides including being able to bring friends and family at no cost to visit Space Center Houston. She also acknowledges that it is a luxury that members don’t have to make reservations or purchase tickets, so little planning is required.

The ease of planning with her membership allows Carter better access to her favorite experiences, Rocket Park and Apollo Mission Control Center. Visiting Space Center Houston is one of her favorite weekend excursions since she can take her guests on these one-of-a-kind tours without having to wait thanks to pre-visit reservations for members.

Carter says, “The 747-shuttle carrier really had an impact. I brought my dad, who was born in Canada, with me to see it. When he saw that the arm inside the shuttle had a Canadian emblem, he got very excited. I took a picture of him in front of it, and it became his Facebook profile picture.”

Carter continues to embrace the learning opportunities that are provided to her on each trip to Space Center Houston and looks forward to her next visit to learn more about the plans to take humans to the moon, Mars and beyond!

Members, share your favorite Space Center Houston experience with us. Email us at membership@spacecenter.org or call +1 281-244-2100 to share your member story.

The post Member Spotlight: Sharon Carter appeared first on Space Center Houston.

A space enthusiast since she was young, Thetford dreams of heading into the great unknown of space one day. Until then, she gets as close to space as possible by taking regular trips to Space Center Houston with her twins, Lincoln and Abbie.

Thetford first became a member in 2020, upon learning of the center’s summer Explorer Camps, which her children were just old enough to attend. As her twins headed to their first of many spectacular camp experiences, Thetford decided to explore the center’s artifact collection, interactive exhibits, and live presentations. It was here that she found a renewed love for the space industry.

With top-of-the-line exhibits and exclusive member benefits, Thetford says each time her family visits Space Center Houston, it’s like experiencing a brand-new adventure.

Even after a long day of camp, Thetford says her children are always up for exploring the center and learning more about the future of human spaceflight. “Member entry benefits allow us to skip the line and head straight to security, giving us extra time to explore the center prior to closing each day,” she says.

Thetford also has exclusive access to events happening at Space Center Houston. Recently, the family used their complimentary tickets to attend Breakfast with an Astronaut, where the Thetford children were able to interact with a real-life astronaut.

Thetford thinks very highly of Space Center Houston and its exceptional employees. She specifically mentions Membership Supervisor Jose Elizalde, who has helped make each visit memorable. “He and his team go above and beyond to ensure I am getting the full member-experience. I’m so grateful for their efforts and credit the team with contributing to my love for Space Center Houston.”

Space Center Houston members enjoy unique experiences all year long. Through their contributions, members become important Space Center Houston champions, helping us bring people and space closer together.

Not a member? Join today for access to our member exclusive events, free admission and parking for a year, express entry, discounts on food and merchandise, and more. Is your membership expiring soon? Renew it today for uninterrupted access to all your member benefits.

The post Member Spotlight: Amberleigh Thetford appeared first on Space Center Houston.

Putcha first visited Space Center Houston in 1992 following the initial opening of the museum along with his wife, Dr. Lakshmi Putcha, former Chief of Pharmacokinetics, NASA Life Sciences Division (now deceased). As a NASA contractor engineer, he took a personal interest in the space industry, especially how NASA portrayed the space race to the public. “Space is there and as human beings, we always want to explore,” Putcha says. He recognized that Space Center Houston provides a way for visitors from around the world to begin their space exploration adventures.

Putcha became a Space Center Houston member in 2016, the perfect time as his grandchildren were visiting for the holiday season. When he asked them what they wanted to do during their free time, they collectively asked to attend the center’s hands-on education programs. Using his membership benefits, Putcha registered his grandchildren for the winter Explore Camps at an excellent members-only, discounted rate. When the kids finished their camp experience, Putcha found himself pleased with how they were inspired by and curious about the space and science content, remarking “Space Center Houston is educating kids in the current generation, so they know how the space industry was able to get started and where it is now.”

Now a Discovery Circle member, Putcha has continued to enjoy the perks of his membership. He recently reveled in the opportunity to once again help ignite the spark of imagination for new folks in our local community. After successfully selling his long-time home, which is situated not far from Space Center Houston, Putcha utilized his Patron membership privileges to arrange a personalized VIP tour of the center and brought the family who recently purchased his home as his guests. Through this experience, Putcha wanted to help the family, which included adults and a number of young children, open their imaginations and set their curiosity into motion. He wanted to help them grow a fondness for Space Center Houston so that the family might also become members and enjoy unique experiences as he and his family had.

Putcha’s guests had a wonderful time exploring Space Center Houston and learning about all that the center has to offer, which included the benefits available exclusively to members. This firsthand experience reminded Putcha of the wonder and effects that learning about space exploration could have on guests of all ages. Putcha explains that “without that initial spark of curiosity in the next generation, the spark that Space Center Houston helps ignite, we will never know where we will be able to go.”

Not a member? Join today for access to our member exclusive events, free admission and parking for a year, express entry, discounts on food and merchandise, and more. Is your membership expiring soon? Renew it today for uninterrupted access to all your member benefits.

The post Member Spotlight: Mallik Putcha appeared first on Space Center Houston.