Frequently Asked Questions

When will the new NASA Glenn Visitor Center open at Great Lakes Science Center?

Phase One of the new NASA Glenn Visitor Center is currently open and features more than 50 exhibits and artifacts which were relocated from the Visitor Center at NASA Glenn Research Center. A complete build-out of the highly anticipated new NASA Glenn Visitor Center will be completed in summer 2012.

Why was it important for the NASA Glenn Visitor Center to come to Great Lakes Science Center?

Moving to the Science Center elevates the visibility of the NASA Glenn Visitor Center and the work done at NASA Glenn Research Center. The Science Center’s goal is for everyone in the region to know not only that Northeast Ohio has a vital NASA Research Center, but also that Northeast Ohio has a NASA Glenn Visitor Center – one of only 10 NASA Visitor Centers in the country.

Hosting the new NASA Glenn Visitor Center at Great Lakes Science Center is a natural extension of our mission to help people of all ages achieve and maintain greater science literacy in order to sustain and improve the quality of life in Greater Cleveland, the Great Lakes region and beyond.

What are the plans for the NASA Glenn Visitor Center? Will all the items from Glenn Research Center come to Great Lakes Science Center?

It is important to note that we are not simply moving the current NASA Glenn Visitor Center artifacts to Great Lakes Science Center. We are planning to build a new NASA Glenn Visitor Center, leveraging meaningful artifacts from Glenn’s on-site Visitor Center -- such as the Apollo command module used on Skylab 3 -- to create new highly interactive exhibits and an enhanced visitor experience.

The build-out of the new Visitor Center will occur in phases and will utilize existing interior space in Great Lakes Science Center. Phase One, which is currently open, features more than 50 exhibits and artifacts which were relocated from the Visitor Center at NASA Glenn Research Center. Visitors can view rocket models, a flight simulator, a solar array segment and more. Additional exhibits will be transferred as the Science Center expands the NASA Glenn galleries. A total of 7,300 square feet of interior exhibit space will be dedicated to the new Visitor Center which will be completed in 2011. Great Lakes Science Center will make a $3 million investment in the project. An anticipated second phase of the new Visitor Center will feature 4,000 square feet of outdoor exhibits and a towering rocket garden overlooking Lake Erie.

Where is the new NASA Glenn Visitor Center located?

The new NASA Glenn Visitor Center is housed within existing space at Great Lakes Science Center. More than 50 artifacts from the NASA Glenn Research Center have been installed in the Science Center’s Return to the Moon gallery and an adjacent gallery space. As the $3 million build-out of the new NASA Glenn Visitor Center progresses, additional exhibits will be installed in adjacent gallery space. When complete in 2011, the new NASA Glenn Visitor Center will encompass 7,300 square feet of interior exhibit space.

Introduced in July 2009 in partnership with NASA Glenn Research Center, Return to the Moon is a suite of interactive exhibits that details NASA’s Constellation program to return to the moon. Visitors can build their own spacecraft that can withstand the stresses of launch, operate a remote-controlled lunar rover model and investigate a lunar map, exploring all the moon landings and places we may go next, plus many other experiences.

Is there be a separate ticket or admission price for the NASA Glenn Visitor Center?

No, admission to the NASA Glenn Visitor Center is included in the general admission price for Great Lakes Science Center.

School groups and youth under 18 are able to take advantage of special free admission programs. Details are below.

Is there any free admission to the NASA Glenn Visitor Center at Great Lakes Science Center?

Yes, we are offering free general admission to the NASA Glenn Visitor Center and to Great Lakes Science Center on Tuesdays to all youth (18 and under or any student up through the 12th grade accompanied by an adult.) Organizations with a group of 10 or more should call 216-621-2400 to schedule their visit.

In addition, all Ohio Title 1 schools and all schools that previously visited the NASA Glenn Visitor Center at Glenn Research Center during the last three years will have free admission to the NASA Glenn Visitor Center any day of the week. Special programming days are offered each month by Great Lakes Science Center to deliver a particularly rich experience for these schools and their students. Special programming includes staff-led activities and demonstrations to complement the NASA Glenn Visitor Center and the Return to the Moon gallery.

School groups must register for field trips by calling 216-621-2400 (Monday – Friday, 9 am – 5:30 pm.)