Science & technology museums in Mountain View

The NASA Ames Visitor Center, located at the entrance of NASA's Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, California, serves as the gateway to the world of space exploration. It provides an opportunity for visitors to learn about NASA's research and development activities, and the role they play in advancing our understanding of the universe.

The museum currently hosts three unique exhibits on the history of computing. "Mastering the Game" provides a history of computer chess, "Innovations in the Valley" offers a look at the companies and people of Silicon Valley, and a Difference Engine exhibit showcases a machine designed by Charles Babbage in the 1840s and built by the London Science Museum. These exhibits offer a deep dive into the history and evolution of computing.

The Ames Research Center plays a crucial role in space exploration, being involved in virtually all space probe projects either as a designer or a subcontractor for equipment or tests. The center also contributes to the space program for the search for life in the universe, the development of survival systems for future missions, and studying the effects of space on humans. This wide range of activities offers visitors a comprehensive insight into the ongoing efforts and advancements in space exploration.