The NASA Goddard Visitor Center is the gateway between the cutting-edge science done inside the center and the public that this science aims to serve and inspire. From our Sun to the outer planets, current and past space telescopes and their stories, to galaxies and cosmic wonders far beyond our Earth, the Visitor Center connects subject matter experts to the local, national, and even international community. The Visitor Center boasts permanent exhibits, sensory friendly hours, an education resources center, and activities for learners of all ages including monthly programming such as model rocket launches, Science Saturdays, Mission Experiment, Space for Me, Ask a Scientist, HerStory: Women of Goddard, Scavenger Hunts, Family Science Adventure, and several others. The Goddard Visitor Center also offers science home-schooling sessions throughout the year, provides extensive resources for formal and informal educators, and hosts special events such as Girl Scout Day and Observe the Moon Night. At a central location between Washington, DC, Baltimore, and Annapolis, families and schools from all over the greater DMV region make the trip to Greenbelt to spark - and re-spark - this sense of wonder and excitement with the science that is done at NASA Goddard.

A MISSION-CRITICAL PUBLIC OUTREACH HUB

The impact of the Visitor Center can not only be felt, but measured. In 2024 alone, the NASA Goddard Visitor Center achieved the following:

• 33,605 walk-in visitors, engaged across 268 days open.

• 17,522 participants in 274 free public programs, fostering STEM education and community connection.

• 6,223 participants from 43 states + DC, including 17 international schools attending virtual field trips.

• 3,063 youth and adults took part in 96 onsite guided field trip programs, enriching classrooms with real-world science.

• Approximately 1200 volunteer hours, with subject matter experts and dedicated community docents leading public engagement.

And all of it is free of charge to the public.

AN ECONOMIC RESOURCE FOR THE DMV

The Visitor Center is not simply an educational venue, it draws tens of thousands of visitors annually who support local businesses, hotels, and restaurants.

Closure of the Center would mean:

• Lost tourism dollars.

• Reduced visibility for the Goddard Space Flight Center in NASA’s broader mission.

• Disconnection of local families and school systems from the U.S. space program.

• A weakened ability to inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers, and space leaders.

We, the members of the broader DMV communities, petition NASA Interim Administrator Sean Duffy and Goddard Space Flight Center Senior Leadership to continue to fund the Goddard Visitor Center for the reasons outlined above. It is an understatement to say that the Visitor Center is a vital part of our community, and its dissipation would be a tremendous loss for those who learn from it, who rely on its services, and the staff and scientists who are eager to share their passion for science with the world.