Technical Tours
| Tour | Date | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Tour | Tuesday, August 11, 2026 Wednesday, August 12, 2026 |
8:30 AM - 1:40 PM | Greenbelt, Maryland |
| NOAA Technical Tour (Complimentary) | Tuesday, August 11, 2026 Thursday, August 13, 2026 |
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM |
National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science Wildlife Center (NCWCP) Riverdale Park, Maryland |
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Tour
Join us for a visit to some of the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) technical facility.
Time: 8:00-13:00 on Tuesday, 11 August or on Wednesday, 12 August
Cost: $12 for transportation
Deadline for registration: 22 July 2026
Tour Includes
- Overview presentation;
- Visit to Integration and Testing building to observe various vacuum chambers used in satellite development, view the vibration test bed and see the Space Environment Simulator;
- Earth Science Mission Operations Center, with control rooms of Landsat 8/9, GPM, Aqua, Aura, Terra, etc.
- Self guided visit of the Visitor Center;
- Stop at the GSFC Gift Shop.
Security Procedures
- Minimum age is 10 years old.
- Government-issued photo ID is required for all visitors
- Foreign nationals need to provide full name, date of birth, passport number and expiration date, and country of origin, by 9 July and the passport must physically be presented to the Visitor Center staff at the time of the tour.
- Participants who are citizens of the country in this list are not allowed to enter NASA facilities.
NOAA Technical Tour (Complimentary)
IGARSS 2026 attendees are invited to participate in a complimentary technical tour of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science Wildlife Center (NCWCP). Participation is free of charge; however, advance RSVP is required as space is limited.
Tour Dates
- Tuesday, August 11, 2026 | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
- Thursday, August 13, 2026 | 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Only 20 people per tour are allowed.
RSVP HerePlease RSVP through the button above to reserve your place on the tour. Participation is complimentary, but advance RSVP is required due to limited capacity. As part of the RSVP process, you must provide your country of citizenship.
Transportation & Arrival
Location
National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science Wildlife Center (NCWCP)
Riverdale Park, Maryland
Participants are responsible for arranging their own transportation to and from the facility.
Metro: Take the Washington Metro Green Line to College Park Station. From the station, attendees may take the University of Maryland Shuttle Route #104 (College Park Metro / Discovery District) to the NCWCP. This shuttle is free and available to all visitors traveling to the facility.
Please note that the shuttle stop at the Metro station is located on a loop. Be sure to board the shuttle at Stop #7 (not Stop #20) to travel toward the NCWCP. Exit the shuttle at Stop #17.
Free parking is also available on-site for attendees arriving by car.
Please plan to arrive at the facility no later than the scheduled tour start time to allow sufficient time for the security check-in process:
- Tuesday, August 11 Tour: Arrive by 10:00 AM
- Thursday, August 13 Tour: Arrive by 1:00 PM
Late arrivals may not be permitted to join the tour.
Identification & Eligibility
This tour takes place at a U.S. government facility and is subject to federal security requirements.
All attendees must present valid identification upon arrival:
- Foreign Nationals: Valid passport
- U.S. Citizens and U.S. Permanent Residents: REAL ID-compliant driver's license or identification card
Unfortunately, attendees who are citizens of Cuba, Iran, North Korea, or Syria are not eligible to participate in this tour due to U.S. government security restrictions.
All other participants may be required to provide identifying information in advance as part of the facility's security screening process. Additional instructions will be provided to confirmed participants prior to the tour.