Whirlwind space-themed USA visit -- help please!

[Human]

So I'm a bit of a space-travel nerd and I'm starting to think about a quick (10 days approx) one-person trip (my wife isn't the least bit interested but she's happy for me to go!) to visit some iconic space-themed destinations in the USA in January 2025. So far my thinking is...

• 2 days at Johnson Space Center in Houston.
• 3 days at the Smithsonian in Washington DC (chiefly to visit the Air and Space Museum but also taking the opportunity to visit other parts of the Smithsonian as well)
• 1-2 days at Cape Canaveral, Florida (nearest major airport is Orlando).
• Maybe 1-2 days in New York just because I'll be in the vicinity??
• Anywhere else I really should visit given the limited timeframe?

If at all possible (I know that January is a peak season for flights into and out of Australia) I'd like to use points to fly Business class, at least for the long-haul sectors. I have 600k Qantas points, 550k Velocity points, 90k Avios and 120k AmEx Ascent Premium MR points. I'll also have 2-3 AmEx travel credits ($450 Platinum Charge, $400 Platinum Reserve and $200 Platinum Edge) which I could use towards accommodation and/or domestic flights if I can't use points.

I'm on a bit of a budget (I'm a teacher and not rolling in cash) so I'd like to do it as cheaply as possible.

At this point I'm information-gathering and starting to plan how to best go about getting this done. I love flying and I'm happy with weird layovers, going the long way round, etc in order to get there and back.

Questions:

• Does anyone have any tips, inside information, experience, knowledge of people/companies who specialise in this ... anything that could help me as I plan this?
• Should I be aiming at something like a Oneworld or KrisFlyer RTW (I have relatives in Europe I could potentially drop in on) or would it be better to mix and match airlines and alliances? I'm not expecting it to be easy finding reward flights to/from the USA at that time of year.
• Could I take up my Velocity Platinum Hilton Diamond perk (I've never done this) and use it to book cheap Hilton rooms and get upgraded? Or does booking through AmEx Travel (using travel credits) mean that Hilton won't recognise status?

At this stage I don't know what I don't know, so if anyone could point me in the right direction I'd be grateful!

Thanks in advance.

 

[Quickstatus]

Cape Canaveral a half day is more than enough

A bit underwhelming but it was before SpaceX. When I was there the most exciting thing for the kids were the roller coaster rides.
The bus tours were very boring - the driver mentioned about alligators more than the facility. There were no closeups of launch sites - you see it from miles away.

I'm not sure if there are SpaceX related tours

The other museums your mentioned can be done in about a day each as you are travelling solo.

 

[Seat0B]

10 Space-Themed Destinations To Visit In Honor Of The Moon Landing's 50th Anniversary

With the nation celebrating the 50th anniversary of the moon landing, why not take the family (or just your favorite friends) to one of these space-centric destinations? Learn all about the history of NASA, the science behind space travel and more.

www.forbes.com

We have been to the Alamogordo/White Sands and also Huntsville as well as the more usual suspects on this list (and your list). I agree with @Quickstatus that Cape Canaveral was underwhelming, although we did enjoy the iMax movie at the Kennedy Space Centre.

Have fun and please write a trip report as I think a few people on here would be interested in where you go and what you see!

 

[Lynda2475]

I really enjoyed Kennedy Space Centre (which is adjacent to the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station), good exhibits of the Apollo and Saturn programs, was the best thing about Orlando by far - Disney was so underwhleming.

They offer small group talks with Astronauts from the Space Shuttle era too ( i didnt do this), it was 30th anniversary of Moon landing so there were extra exhibits.

I was lucky when I went that the shuttles were still in operation, and although the day I went the launch was cancelled due to weather, it was rescheduled the next night and we could see most of it from the roof top of our Orlando hotel.

Not sure if still the case but the Museum of Science & Industry in Chicago used to have a great exhibit about Nasa's return to the moon - model, Imax etc. Looks like it has been tweaked a bit Henry Crown Space Center

 

[Quickstatus]

The "meet the astronaut" at Cape Canaveral space centre was just someone they paid to put on an astronaut suit.

 

[Lynda2475]

The "meet the astronaut" at Cape Canaveral space centre was just someone they paid to put on an astronaut suit.

I dont know about Cape Canaveral (as it wasn't a thing) but at Kennedy Space Centre (KSC) according to the website they are real astronauts , you can easily cross check names and pictures against specific missions if you think this is fake:

Upcoming Rocket Launches & Events Calendar

www.kennedyspacecenter.com

 

[RooFlyer]

You may hear of and be attracted to the US Space and Rocket Centre in Huntsville, Alabama.

I'd rate it a'no' - my write up of it is here.

You'd no doubt be aware that the Smithsonian Air & Space museum in Washington has two campuses - one a fair way out of the city. Day and a half, or two days, for the two.

 

[Quickstatus]

Kennedy Space Centre

Was At KSC

 

[Lynda2475]

Was At KSC

Then I'd demand a refund under false advertising as the schedule lists specific astronauts so one would expect to get that person not an actor imposter.

 

[SYD]

You'd no doubt be aware that the Smithsonian Air & Space museum in Washington has two campuses - one a fair way out of the city. Day and a half, or two days, for the two.

Yes, for the enthusiast allow the good part of a day for A&S on the Mall. Make sure you check opening hours. The coldest day of my life* was loitering outside the Smithsonian from 9am to 10am on a crisp February morning. I told my colleague that it opened at 10, he was adamant it was 9am. I was right….. If you’re into American history and the other stuff, they’re all exceptional.

*and yes, a summers day in SFO is up there as another “coldest day” moment

 

[Pushka]

Smithsonian in Washington DC is fabulous, as is the Kennedy Space Centre.

 

[newmarket]

The Air Force museum in Dayton Ohio is one of my favorites.

 

[SYD]

Earlier this year I walked past (didn’t visit) the San Diego Air & Space Museum.


It gets a mention here.

10 Top Space Centers and Museums in the United States - Zero-G

Americans have a deep fascination for air flight and space travel, so it’s not surprising that we have so many excellent air and space museums in the U.S. It’s also not surprising that we like to visit air and space museums when traveling abroad, too. We’ve got you covered no matter which...

www.gozerog.com

 

[kamchatsky]

Loved Kennedy Space Centre when we went there in Jan this year, and say a live rocket launch as well. I would have preferred to go for two days as I did not see everything in 1 day. The kids loved Disney World, so we were based in Orlando for our day trip to KSC. However, for award flexibility, I suggest flying into/out of Tampa (TPA) as it is only 90 minute drive from Orlando.

 

[Quickstatus]

Then I'd demand a refund under false advertising

No because their idea was just like going to a shopping centre to meet Santa Claus. In this case astronaut.

 

[Lynda2475]

No because their idea was just like going to a shopping centre to meet Santa Claus. In this case astronaut.

No their website per the link I provided is for an extra fee is selling meets with actual astronauts.

I was not talking about the Disneyesque staff members dressed at crew who are there to give directions etc.

So do you actually have proof that the paid astronaut meets are fake using actors or are you just assuming? Because I recognise at least two listed as real deal.

 

[Quickstatus]

No their website per the link I provided is for an extra fee is selling meets with actual astronauts.

You are talking about now. I was talking about when I was there in the past. There was no extra fee for real astronauts back then...

 

[Lynda2475]

You are talking about now. I was talking about when I was there in the past. There was no extra fee for real astronauts back then...

May not have been as regular a thing as it is now, but there were ticketed talks by astronauts including Buzz Aldrin in 99/00 as part of the Apollo 30th Anniversary moon landings at KSC.

If the OP wants to plan a KSC visit around talking with an actual astronaut he can.

 

[Human]

I know I'm taking a risk that other reward flights will become available, but I'm inclined not to book the Singapore Airlines MEL-SIN-MAN-IAH itinerary to Houston that is now available for January 2025. It's 145,500 KrisFlyer points plus A$151 ... the problem is that if something better becomes available it's USD 75 to cancel.

I'm hoping that at some point this year a one-stop reward itinerary in Business class will become available -- preferably either MEL-SYD-IAH on Virgin/United or MEL-DFW-IAH on Qantas/American.

 

[dajop]

• Maybe 1-2 days in New York just because I'll be in the vicinity??

If you want to keep with the theme in visiting New York you could always spend 1/2 day at the Intrepid Museum to see the original test space shuttle Enterprise. So that’s your excuse to go there