"Experience Space While on Earth": Various Events to Be Held Across the U.S. This Summer
Following the success of NASA's Artemis program, Brand USA has announced a variety of space and stargazing-themed events and experiences to be held across the United States this summer. Visitors can enjoy rocket launches and stargazing at locations such as the Kennedy Space Center, Space Center Houston, U.S. Space & Rocket Center, and Grand Canyon National Park.
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- 📰 Published: May 1, 2026 at 02:01
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The Orion spacecraft of NASA's international lunar exploration project "Artemis Program" crewed mission "Artemis 2" successfully returned to Earth on April 10th this year (U.S. local time). In this mission, "Orion" orbited the far side of the Moon, achieving the historic feat of updating the record for the farthest distance from Earth reached by humankind, previously set by the Apollo program.
Against this backdrop, "Dark Sky Tourism," aimed at stargazing, has gained global attention in recent years. This travel style allows visitors to enjoy stargazing and other activities in areas with minimal light pollution, with over 150 International Dark Sky certified locations scattered across the United States. Furthermore, in the U.S., known as the forefront of space development, various "space-themed experiences" are available in different regions, including rocket launch facilities, space-related museums and experiential facilities, and natural environments perfect for enjoying a sky full of stars. In response to this, Brand USA, the official tourism marketing organization for the United States, has published an overview of various space and stargazing-themed events and experiences that can be enjoyed across the U.S. on its official consumer website, "Visit The USA."
### Experience the Forefront of Space Development from Rocket Launch Sites
- **Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex (Space Coast, Florida)**
Located about 45 minutes by car from Orlando, Florida, on the Space Coast where space-related facilities are concentrated, this is NASA's official visitor facility. It features an actual Space Shuttle Atlantis display, experiential exhibits on the latest space development and missions, and programs that simulate space missions using simulators. Visitors can easily learn about the history of space development to ongoing missions. In addition, near Port Canaveral, if the timing is right, rocket launches can be observed from the coast. Furthermore, special night-only programs called "Family After Hours Adventure" are scheduled for June 19th, July 17th, and August 21st this year. This popular family program for children aged 7-14, held after closing hours, allows participants to enjoy and experience the world of space development through Atlantis guided tours, simulator experiences, and interactive exhibits.
Official website: https://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/
- **Space Center Houston (Houston, Texas)**
Located about 30 minutes by car from downtown Houston, Texas, and adjacent to the NASA Johnson Space Center, this official visitor facility offers tours of historic Mission Control and astronaut training facilities, providing insights into the behind-the-scenes of space development. From June 28th to July 3rd, and July 12th to 17th this year, a five-day space experiential program "Space Center U" will be held for children aged 11-17. Through simulations mimicking astronaut training and rocket engineering experiential programs, participants can practically learn about the field of space development.
Official website: https://spacecenter.org/
- **U.S. Space & Rocket Center (Huntsville, Alabama)**
This space museum boasts one of the world's largest rocket collections, including the Saturn V rocket that first sent humans to the moon in 1969. Located in Huntsville, Alabama, known as "Rocket City," it offers a wealth of experiential exhibits and educational programs, allowing visitors to systematically learn about the progression of space development from the Apollo program to the Artemis program. Additionally, from May to September this year, the "Family Space Camp" program, which families can participate in, is scheduled to be held 13 times. A variety of programs are available, including space mission simulations, zero-gravity training device experiences, and model rocket building and launching experiences.
Official website: https://www.rocketcenter.com/
### Enjoy Stargazing and Stays: Dark Sky Spots Spreading Across the U.S.
- **Grand Canyon National Park (Grand Canyon / South Rim, Arizona)**
Certified as an "International Dark Sky Park" in 2019 by Dark Sky International (formerly IDA), an international non-profit organization working on light pollution issues centered on astronomers and environmentalists, this is one of the premier stargazing spots in the U.S. In this UNESCO World Heritage site national park, visitors can enjoy a sky full of stars in an environment with minimal light pollution, along with the magnificent beauty of the canyon. From June 6th to 13th this year, lectures by astronomers and telescope observations...
Against this backdrop, "Dark Sky Tourism," aimed at stargazing, has gained global attention in recent years. This travel style allows visitors to enjoy stargazing and other activities in areas with minimal light pollution, with over 150 International Dark Sky certified locations scattered across the United States. Furthermore, in the U.S., known as the forefront of space development, various "space-themed experiences" are available in different regions, including rocket launch facilities, space-related museums and experiential facilities, and natural environments perfect for enjoying a sky full of stars. In response to this, Brand USA, the official tourism marketing organization for the United States, has published an overview of various space and stargazing-themed events and experiences that can be enjoyed across the U.S. on its official consumer website, "Visit The USA."
### Experience the Forefront of Space Development from Rocket Launch Sites
- **Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex (Space Coast, Florida)**
Located about 45 minutes by car from Orlando, Florida, on the Space Coast where space-related facilities are concentrated, this is NASA's official visitor facility. It features an actual Space Shuttle Atlantis display, experiential exhibits on the latest space development and missions, and programs that simulate space missions using simulators. Visitors can easily learn about the history of space development to ongoing missions. In addition, near Port Canaveral, if the timing is right, rocket launches can be observed from the coast. Furthermore, special night-only programs called "Family After Hours Adventure" are scheduled for June 19th, July 17th, and August 21st this year. This popular family program for children aged 7-14, held after closing hours, allows participants to enjoy and experience the world of space development through Atlantis guided tours, simulator experiences, and interactive exhibits.
Official website: https://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/
- **Space Center Houston (Houston, Texas)**
Located about 30 minutes by car from downtown Houston, Texas, and adjacent to the NASA Johnson Space Center, this official visitor facility offers tours of historic Mission Control and astronaut training facilities, providing insights into the behind-the-scenes of space development. From June 28th to July 3rd, and July 12th to 17th this year, a five-day space experiential program "Space Center U" will be held for children aged 11-17. Through simulations mimicking astronaut training and rocket engineering experiential programs, participants can practically learn about the field of space development.
Official website: https://spacecenter.org/
- **U.S. Space & Rocket Center (Huntsville, Alabama)**
This space museum boasts one of the world's largest rocket collections, including the Saturn V rocket that first sent humans to the moon in 1969. Located in Huntsville, Alabama, known as "Rocket City," it offers a wealth of experiential exhibits and educational programs, allowing visitors to systematically learn about the progression of space development from the Apollo program to the Artemis program. Additionally, from May to September this year, the "Family Space Camp" program, which families can participate in, is scheduled to be held 13 times. A variety of programs are available, including space mission simulations, zero-gravity training device experiences, and model rocket building and launching experiences.
Official website: https://www.rocketcenter.com/
### Enjoy Stargazing and Stays: Dark Sky Spots Spreading Across the U.S.
- **Grand Canyon National Park (Grand Canyon / South Rim, Arizona)**
Certified as an "International Dark Sky Park" in 2019 by Dark Sky International (formerly IDA), an international non-profit organization working on light pollution issues centered on astronomers and environmentalists, this is one of the premier stargazing spots in the U.S. In this UNESCO World Heritage site national park, visitors can enjoy a sky full of stars in an environment with minimal light pollution, along with the magnificent beauty of the canyon. From June 6th to 13th this year, lectures by astronomers and telescope observations...