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May 24 – May 31, 2026
From rocket launches to robotics, Texas is where science, creativity, and courage meet. At Space Center U, you’ll step into the world of astronauts and engineers—building rockets, designing habitats, and even training like astronauts underwater. Along the way, you’ll explore Houston and Austin, from baseball games to BBQ, discovering how humans push boundaries both on earth and in space. By the end, you’ll ask yourself: how do we confront the unknown—and what does it take to succeed?
Considerations: Swim tests required for participation in water activities. Willingness to navigate hot weather. Participants must be between the ages of 15-18 on May 24, 2026.
Fly from Los Angeles to Houston. Get to know your group, review the global pillars, and gear up for a week of discovery.
Kick off Space Center U with a NASA tour, then dive into design challenges: build and test a two-stage rocket, create a heat shield to withstand 1,000°F, and construct a cryo-capsule to protect astronauts from Martian cold. In the evening, explore downtown Houston and its River Walk.
Launch your rockets and tour Mission Control. Then take on the Martian habitat challenge: build a system that sustains life, water, air, and energy while addressing cultural and global awareness. Wrap up the day with an MLB baseball game (schedule permitting).
Meet a special guest speaker before tackling a rover design challenge. Work with budgets, coding, and testing as you create a robotic rover to collect rock samples and navigate Martian terrain. In the evening, sample Houston’s flavors on a food tour.
Step inside Independence Plaza and Falcon 9 to see NASA’s shuttle legacy. Then head to a local pool for astronaut-style SCUBA training. Learn underwater techniques for simulating microgravity, build a mock airlock, and perform astronaut tasks. Evening free for rest and relaxation.
Celebrate your week with a Q&A session with a NASA astronaut, tour the Starship Gallery, and graduate with your Space Center U certificate. Travel to Austin in the afternoon, and cap off the evening with the famous bat flight at Congress Bridge.
Explore Texas’s capital with a visit to the State Capitol, swim at Barton Springs, and shop for souvenirs. In the evening, experience the magical sunset light sequence at UT’s Skyspace and share a classic Texas BBQ dinner.
Fly back to Los Angeles, bringing home new skills, stories, and inspiration for confronting the unknown.
Insight has delivered international trips for a wide variety of audiences, including both adults and youths, since 2013. Our top priority from start to finish is the health and well-being of our participants. In the event conditions change while on trip, Insight may need to adjust the itinerary to ensure participant health and safety.
As with all trips, risks do exist and participants will need to complete Acknowledgement of Risk documentation prior to departure. Insight will take every precaution to ensure this experience is truly unforgettable, all for the right reasons. To learn more about our health and safety practices, please contact us.
Please refer to instructions sent by your school.
We take students out of the classroom and challenge them to learn about how the world really works in different places, delivering truly unique travel opportunities around the world.