“GOES goes East”
Saturday, March 15, 1 – 3 p.m.
 
Join us on Saturday, March 15, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Goddard Visitor Center for “Mission: Experiment – GOES-19 Goes East.” This free, family-friendly event will highlight GOES-19 – the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) latest weather satellite – including its milestone of becoming the next GOES East satellite. The event will also celebrate the illustrious 50-year history of the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) program. Participants will engage with hands-on activities and demonstrations to learn more about the science of GOES from NOAA and NASA experts as well as special guests from the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum.

The program, formally known as Sunday Experiment, is changing days! Introducing Mission: Experiment on Saturday dates throughout the school year from 1 – 3 p.m.! While the day is changing, the program is not and will still be a free, family-friendly afternoon with activities best suited for children ages 5 to 10. Similarly, registration is not required. Each program will focus on a different mission or topic relevant to Goddard. Make sure to check our schedule for upcoming Saturday dates and topics throughout the school year.

Third Thursday of the Month, 9 – 10 a.m.

Grow with Goddard! Join us for activities and demonstrations for ages 3-5 here at our visitor center during a special morning hour before we open to the public. Please see the list of dates and topics below. Registration is required for each child participant. Parents and guardians do not need to register, but at least one parent or guardian must be on-site for the program.

Dec. 19 – I’m a Scientist!

More dates to be announced for 2025.

Explore the Goddard Visitor Center during a sensory-friendly hour before we open for the day. Sounds and lighting in our exhibit spaces will be limited during this time. We will also have touch items for visitors to experience.

First Saturday of each month at 1 p.m. (formerly Sundays)
(Some holidays excluded; weather, security conditions permitting; call ahead to confirm: 301-286-8981)
Like to build model rockets, but don’t have a launch pad? Now you do! Anyone can bring a model to fly at the Goddard Visitor Center rocket launches; there are no costs or fees to participate. Rockets, motors and supplies are available for purchase at the nearby Goddard Gift Shop (and many hobby shops or toy stores) and you can even get rocket construction and launch tips from our on-site experts on launch day!
Don’t want to launch your own rocket? That’s fine, too — come out to watch, and cheer on our rocketeers!
Model rocket launches are held at the Goddard Visitor Center the first Saturday of the month (some holidays excluded, and weather and security conditions permitting). Launches start at 1 p.m. and are brought to you by the NARHAMS Model Rocket club. These launches have been part of Visitor Center programs since 1976.
Visitors bring and prepare their own models; a group safety briefing is given at 1 p.m., and models are given a preflight safety assessment. We allow single-engine models that must not exceed C-class models. 1/2A or A models work best for our field. We do not permit rocket gliders, models whose altitude may exceed 2,000 feet, clustered motors, or two stage rockets.
Weather decisions will be made the day of the launch — to check the status of a launch, please contact the Visitor Center front desk at 301-286-8981.