NASA AREA MAP – LAUNCH SITE AND HOTEL LOCATIONSThe NASA/Houston Rocket Club has one of the best launch sites in the country. The club’s launch site resides on the grounds of the NASA JOHNSON SPACE CENTER, located in Clear Lake City, Texas. Clear Lake Texas is about 15 miles South of Houston Texas right on Interstate 45. All paved access right up to the launch pads with plenty of parking! The map below shows a large part of the NASA Bay area, including the NASA Johnson Space Center and all surrounding hotels, hobby shops and other interesting sites. For those out-of-town contestants, the NASA Bay area provides a lot of interesting sites to see, such as the SPACE CENTER, the NASA JOHNSON SPACE CENTER, ROCKET PARK and GALVESTON. There are also many fine restaurants in the area, including many located in the Kemah area, right on the bay – just minutes from the launch site.
DIRECTIONS TO LAUNCH SITE (JSC)
The following map shows the JSC area. To get to JSC, you can take either the Bay Area Blvd. exit or the NASA Rd. 1 exit off I-45 (Gulf Freeway), and drive east. Most folks like to use Bay Area Blvd. to get to JSC off I-45. It is a better road than NASA Rd. 1 and usually has less traffic. If taking Bay Area Blvd. to JSC, drive east until you reach SATURN LANE, then turn right. You will travel for a couple of miles, and will then see a large open area to your left. This is the NRHC launch site located inside JSC. Continue on until you see Rocket Park and the JSC security station to your left. You must enter JSC at this security station. Drive in, stop at the guard station and show your NHRC gate pass.
The following numbered lines of information correspond to the numbers on the above map. This information will help you find the NHRC launch site facility located on the grounds of the NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Clear Lake, Texas.
1. This is I-45 (Gulf Freeway) that runs from Houston to Galveston.
2. This is Bay Area Blvd. It will take you to JSC.
3. This is NASA Rd. 1. It will take you to JSC.
4. This is SATURN LANE. If you take Bay Area Blvd. to JSC, you would turn right on Saturn Lane to get to JSC.
5. This entire shaded area is the NASA Johnson Space Center.
6. This circular area outlines the NHRC launch site and recovery field. It is about 1 mile square.
7. This point indicates the actual launch site. It is located at the end of a large concrete and asphalt area.
8. Entrance to the Radio Controlled aircraft area. Do NOT drive on the concrete portion of the RC flying area. Instead, turn to your far left onto the asphalt, hugging the grass-line, and SLOWLY drive down to the launch site at the opposite end of the asphalt area. NEVER drive on the concrete portion of the RC flying area – the concrete drive serves as the runway for the RC planes.
your far left onto the asphalt, hugging the grass-line, and SLOWLY drive down to the launch site at the opposite end of the asphalt area. NEVER drive on the concrete portion of the RC flying area – the concrete drive serves as the runway for the RC planes.9. This is the driveway into the first building to your left after leaving the security station. Drive around the back of the building and follow the road to the launch site.
building and follow the road to the launch site. 10. The JSC security station is located here. You MUST STOP here and present your NHRC gate pass to the security officer. Please be courteous to all JSC personnel, especially the security folks. Follow and obey all traffic signs while inside the JSC grounds and drive SLOWLY, please. Any person caught speeding will be ticketed and the infractioncould result in the expulsion of our club from JSC.
officer. Please be courteous to all JSC personnel, especially the security folks. Follow and obey all traffic signs while inside the JSC grounds and drive SLOWLY, please. Any person caught speeding will be ticketed and the infractioncould result in the expulsion of our club from JSC. Do not wander about inside JSC. Your NHRC gate pass allows you access only to the NHRC launch site, but no where else! You may use the restroom facility inside Rocket Park and view the Rockets on display. Rocket Park is located just to the left of the security station – there’s a large rocket called the Saturn V lying on its side – you can’t miss it J
HOTEL LISTING FOR NASA AREA(JSC/NASA area includes: Houston, Nassau Bay, Clear Lake & Webster addresses)1-Holiday Inn of Houston-NASA1300 NASA Rd 1, Nassau Bay281.333.2500Across the street from JSC
1300 NASA Rd 1, Nassau Bay281.333.2500Across the street from JSC2-Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites2720 NASA Rd 1, Houston-Seabrook281.326.7200Further East of JSC – If prefer Holiday Inn, better to stay at Holiday Inn of NASA (see above)
2720 NASA Rd 1, Houston-Seabrook281.326.7200Further East of JSC – If prefer Holiday Inn, better to stay at Holiday Inn of NASA (see above)3-Extended Stay America1410 NASA Rd 1, Clear Lake281.333.9494Across the street from JSC, 1 bed: $49, 2 beds: $54, Kitchenetts. Recommended low-priced hotel.
1410 NASA Rd 1, Clear Lake281.333.9494Across the street from JSC, 1 bed: $49, 2 beds: $54, Kitchenetts. Recommended low-priced hotel.5-NASA Bay HILTON & Marina 3000 NASA Rd 1, Nassau Bay281.333.9300High-rise, Luxurious, Expensive. Right on the marina and directly across from JSC.
3000 NASA Rd 1, Nassau Bay281.333.9300High-rise, Luxurious, Expensive. Right on the marina and directly across from JSC.6-Microtel Inn & Suites 1620 NASA Rd 1, Houston Tx, 77058281.335.0800New hotel (1999) right across from the Space Center. Next door to Luby’s – Dennys right across the street. Only 2 minutes from JSC!
1620 NASA Rd 1, Houston Tx, 77058281.335.0800New hotel (1999) right across from the Space Center. Next door to Luby’s – Dennys right across the street. Only 2 minutes from JSC!7-Quality Inn904 East NASA Rd 1, Houston 77058281.333.3737Next to Tortuga Mexican restaurant and Grand Prize BBQ. Only 5 minutes from JSC.
904 East NASA Rd 1, Houston 77058281.333.3737Next to Tortuga Mexican restaurant and Grand Prize BBQ. Only 5 minutes from JSC.8-Super 8 Motel18103 Kings Rd, NASA Rd 1, Webster281.333.5385Right next to the Quality Inn (see above)
18103 Kings Rd, NASA Rd 1, Webster281.333.5385Right next to the Quality Inn (see above)9-Comfort Inn750 West NASA Rd 1281.332.1001Only 5 minutes from JSC.
750 West NASA Rd 1281.332.1001Only 5 minutes from JSC.10-Residence Inn By Marriot525 W. Bay Area Blvd., Clear Lake281.486.24245 minutes from JSC
525 W. Bay Area Blvd., Clear Lake281.486.24245 minutes from JSC11-Suburban Lodge – Houston/NASA480 W. Bay Area Blvd., Webster281.554.95525 minutes from JSC
480 W. Bay Area Blvd., Webster281.554.95525 minutes from JSC12-Candlewood Suites2737 W. Bay Area Blvd., Houston281.461.30605 minutes from JSC
2737 W. Bay Area Blvd., Houston281.461.30605 minutes from JSC13-Homegate Studios & Suites720 W. Bay Area Blvd., Webster281.338.77115 minutes from JSC Kitchenettes
720 W. Bay Area Blvd., Webster281.338.77115 minutes from JSC Kitchenettes14-Homewood Suites Hotel401 W. Bay Area Blvd., Webster281.486.76775 minutes from JSC
401 W. Bay Area Blvd., Webster281.486.76775 minutes from JSC15-Best Western NASA889 W. Bay Area Blvd., Webster281.338.15265 minutes from JSC. 1 block off I-45.
889 W. Bay Area Blvd., Webster281.338.15265 minutes from JSC. 1 block off I-45. IMPORTANT JSC GUIDELINES - PLEASE READ
IMPORTANT! THE NASA/HOUSTON ROCKET CLUB REQUESTS THAT ALL ATTENDING CLUB MEMBERS, VISITING COMPETITORS AND SPORT FLYERS PLEASE FOLLOW AND OBEY ALL POSTED RULES, REGULATIONS AND SPEED LIMITS WHILE ON THE GROUNDS OF THE NASA JOHNSON SPACE CENTER (JSC)!
THE GATE PASS DOES NOT PROVIDE FOR OPEN ACCESS TO ANY OTHER JSC AREA OR BUILDINGS ! YOU MAY DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE TO THE NEARBY ROCKET PARK AREA AND USE THE PARK RESTROOM.
ANY JSC VIOLATIONS BY VISITING PARTICIPANTS OR CLUB GUESTS (INCLUDING NHRC CLUB MEMBERS) COULD RESULT IN THE EXPULSION OF THE ENTIRE NASA/HOUSTON ROCKET CLUB FROM USING THE JSC FACILITY! ALSO, PLEASE BE COURTEOUS TO ALL JSC SECURITY ATTENDANTS AND ANY JSC PERSONEL. PLEASE REPORT ANY SEEN VIOLATIONS TO CLUB OFFICIALS IMMEDIATELY.
THIS FACILITY IS THE CLUB’S LIVELYHOOD AND SHINING STAR. WE BELIEVE WE HAVE ONE OF THE BEST LAUNCH SITE FACILITIES IN THE COUNTRY. PLEASE HELP US TO ENSURE THIS LAUNCH SITE FACILITY WILL ALWAYS BE AVAILABLE FOR ALL FUTURE LAUNCHES AND CONTESTS AND AVAILABLE TO ALL ROCKETEERS. THANK YOU – WE APPRECIATE YOUR CONCERN AND HELP.
NASA/Houston Rocket Club, Clear Lake, Texas
