We don’t think about satellites often beyond an occasional nighttime sighting. But we should. Those 3,449 satellites currently in orbit provide us with GPS data at the push of a button and allow us to watch TV with a click of the remote. Satellites are responsible for acquiring and sharing knowledge around the world, from communications to weather to navigation and more. Now do you wonder how satellites work and how they are built? If so, a trip to NASA Goddard Space Flight Center should answer all your questions.
Our tour begins in the Visitor Center to watch a short presentation on the projects that Goddard supports or is working to create. Afterward, all tour participants will go through a clearance procedure and will need to present a government-issued ID to receive their visitor badge. When all are badged, we will board a bus to head to Building 29, where we will find displays about the James Webb Space Telescope and the next space telescope project, the Nancy Grace Roman Telescope. A model of the Roman project is on view as well as materials related to the Webb telescope. Moving upstairs, we will view the Goddard Clean Room from an observation area and learn more about the process of assembling satellites. We’ll watch satellite components being worked on by NASA scientists and technicians.
From there, we will travel to the Integration and Testing Building. We will walk along a second-floor catwalk to view smaller clean rooms and additional satellite components and projects, including Cryovac chambers used in satellite testing, the vibration test bed, and the Space Environment Simulator. At various points along the walkway, we will discuss what we are seeing and why the testing process is so important to the success of satellite missions.
We will then travel back to the Visitor Center. The whole tour should take about two hours in total.
What You Need to Know to Participate in this Tour
- Visitors aged 16 and up will be badged after displaying a government-issued photo ID and are required to wear their badges above the waist for the entire visit. They are also required to remain with the escort at all times.
- Ages 10 and above. Children under 16 do not need an ID but must be accompanied by an adult with an acceptable ID.
- Visitors must wear closed-toe comfortable shoes as there is extensive standing and walking on all tours. Heels and sandals are not permitted. Tennis shoes are recommended.
- Backpacks, bags, large purses, and briefcases are not permitted in the tour locations and must remain on the bus.
- Badges MUST be returned to the tour guide at the conclusion of the tour.
- Due to federal security restrictions, Goddard reserves the right to cancel our tour of the facility at any time, though every effort will be made to reschedule or provide an alternate program at the Visitor Center. All vehicles and bags are also subject to search at any time.
- There is an outdoor picnic area, shaded not covered, available if you would like to bring your own lunch for after the tour.
SPACES ARE LIMITED — The tour should take approximately two hours. The exact meeting space will be provided when registration and payment are complete.
Cancellation Policy: NHSM Field Experiences – Cancellations made seven or more days in advance of the field experience will receive a refund (minus a $5 processing fee). Cancellations made within the week of the event will not receive a refund but can be transferred to a friend.
For questions, please email Jayne at JAsh@marylandnature.org.
Location
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
