HAMPTON — NASA Langley is opening its doors and taking visitors backstage on Oct. 21 when it hosts its first open house since 2017.
From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., visitors to NASA Langley Research Center will have the opportunity to explore the campus, get up close to spacecraft, meet astronauts, and immerse themselves in all things space exploration.
“It’s really important for the public to see how NASA makes a difference in their lives. Through exploration and science missions, there are so many things that a lot of us don’t realize that has happened here at Langley Research Center on a daily basis that can wind up having a significant impact on both the local and global scale,” Kanama Bivins, Associate Director of NASA Langley said.
Visitors to the campus will have access to 17 different tour stops on the campus including the aircraft hangar, wind tunnels, the integrated engineering services building, research labs, the NASA fire station, the Artemis Journey exhibit, simulators, testing centers, robotic assembly labs, and more.
NASA Scientists will be on-site for the entire open house, sharing displays and demonstrations. There will also be a kids zone with STEM-related activities, face painting, and DJs throughout the day.
Keynote speakers and presentations are planned throughout the day. Victor Glover, NASA Astronaut and the pilot of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-1 mission, will be at the center through much of the morning and will present a keynote address. Glover spent six months on the International Space Station and will be the pilot of the Artemis II mission.
When it comes time for the open house, Bivins and the team at NASA Langley hope visitors leave the day realizing that being a part of NASA is much more than just science.
“We really try to open the center as broadly as possible. This is such a rare opportunity for the public. As a member of the community, it is very important for us to be able to engage with not just the public, but we feel a responsibility to the next generation. We have so many great institutions of learning around here and so many different educational opportunities,” Bivins said.
“Our responsibility is the outreach piece, we’re very big on STEM engagement, but we’re also very big on pointing out that NASA Langley is a small city. You can always become a part of our organization by being a firefighter, an accountant, human resources, there are so many different opportunities that don’t necessarily come to mind when you think of NASA,” Bivins added.
Parking will be at off-site locations and shuttles will run throughout the day. Visitors are encouraged to review all safety and parking information on the open house website prior to the 21st. The event is free and open to all, no registration is required.
For Bivins and the entire team at NASA Langley, bringing this rare opportunity to the Hampton Roads community is important.
“When you think about NASA, you think about all the possibilities and all the things we’re able to do. Watching people think about what we do and come up with their own thoughts for what they’d like to see and what they envision, it’s special. It’s a critical part of our engagement mission of being responsible citizens of our community and responsible for the next generation,” Bivins said.
For the most up-to-date information on the open house, visit NASA’s open house website.
