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List of buildings in the Johnson Space Center facts for kids

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Aerial View of the Johnson Space Center - GPN-2000-001112
An aerial view of Johnson Space Center (1989)

The Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center (JSC) is a super important place for NASA! It's where a lot of the work for human spaceflight happens. Imagine a huge campus with over 100 buildings spread across 1,620 acres in southeast Houston, Texas. Each building has a special job, helping astronauts train, engineers design, and scientists discover.

Instead of fancy names, most buildings at Johnson Space Center are known by a number. Let's take a look at some of the coolest and most important buildings you'd find there!

Key Buildings at Johnson Space Center

Building What's Inside Opened
1 This is the main office building for JSC. It's where the big bosses, like the center director, work. 1963
2 This building is home to the Public Affairs Office. This is where NASA talks to the news and shares exciting updates about space missions! 1963
3 Time for a snack! This is the main cafeteria and the JSC Exchange Store, where people can grab food and other items. 1963
4-N & 4-S These buildings are where the "Mission Operations" teams work. This includes the Flight Director's Office and the Astronaut Office. It's where the people who guide missions and the astronauts themselves have their offices. 1963
5 Get ready for training! This is the Space Mission Simulation Facility. Here, astronauts and flight controllers practice missions using amazing simulators. They used to have Shuttle Mission Simulators, and now they have simulators for the International Space Station (ISS) and the Orion spacecraft. 1966
7 Ever wondered how space suits are tested? This is the place! Building 7 has special vacuum chambers where engineers test space suits and other equipment to make sure they can handle the harsh conditions of space. 1963
8 This is the Photographic Laboratory and Multimedia Operations Facility. It's where all those incredible photos and videos from space missions are processed and prepared. 1963
9 Welcome to the Space Vehicle Mockup Facility (SVMF)! This building is super cool because it has full-size models of parts of the International Space Station and the Orion spacecraft. Astronauts use these mockups to practice their tasks before flying to space. 1966/1967
10 This is the engineering fabrication facility and machine shop. It's where engineers can build and create parts for spacecraft and other equipment. 1963
12 This building houses the Office of Education, where programs are created to inspire students about space. It also has the Human Resources Office. 1963
16 & 16A These buildings were home to the Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory (SAIL). This is where they tested the software and hardware for the Space Shuttle to make sure everything worked perfectly together before a mission. 1963
17 Ever wondered what astronauts eat in space? This is the Space Food Systems Laboratory! Scientists here work on developing and preparing food for space missions.
27 This is the Astronaut Quarantine Facility. Before astronauts go to space, or sometimes when they return, they might stay here to make sure they are healthy and don't carry any germs. 2005
29 This building used to have a giant centrifuge for astronaut training during the Gemini and Apollo missions. Now, it's used for testing the electronics of the Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV), like Orion. 1966
30-A This building holds many offices for the Mission Operations Directorate. These are the teams that help plan and manage space missions. 1965
30-M This is the famous Christopher C. Kraft Jr. Mission Control Center! This is where flight controllers sit at their consoles, watching over missions and guiding astronauts in space. It includes the historic Apollo Control Room. 1965
30-S Also part of the Christopher C. Kraft Jr. Mission Control Center, this building has the main control room for the International Space Station (ISS). It also has other control rooms and data facilities. 1993?
31 & 31-N These buildings are for Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science, including the Lunar Sample Laboratory Facility. This is where scientists study rocks and samples brought back from the Moon and other planets. 1966
32 This is the Space Environment Simulation Laboratory. It has huge vacuum chambers that can create conditions similar to space. This is used to test spacecraft parts to make sure they can survive in space. It's even a National Historic Landmark! 1966
37 This building is the Life Sciences Laboratory. It used to be the Lunar Receiving Laboratory, where astronauts and Moon rocks were kept after Apollo missions to make sure they didn't bring back any unknown germs.
46 This is the Central Computing Facility, where all the powerful computers that support NASA's work are located. 1989
207 & 208 The Gilruth Center and Gilruth Sports Park are places where NASA employees can relax, exercise, and take part in activities.
211 This is the Aaron Cohen Childcare Center, providing care for the children of NASA employees. 2000
259 This building is used for Astronaut Selection and Isolation Quarters. It's where potential astronauts might stay during the selection process or for special isolation needs. 1967
268A This is the Planetary Analog Test Site, also known as the "Rock Yard." It's a special outdoor area that looks like the surface of the Moon or Mars. Engineers use it to test rovers and spacesuits for future missions.
110 This is the Security headquarters, located just outside the main NASA gates. This is where visitors and employees get their badges to enter the center.

See also

  • Mission Control Center
  • Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory
  • Ellington Field

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List of buildings in the Johnson Space Center Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.