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Cape Canaveral Space Force Museum

Coordinates: 28°26′39″N 80°34′16″W / 28.44417°N 80.57111°W / 28.44417; -80.57111
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Cape Canaveral Space Force Museum
Map
Former name
Air Force Space and Missile Museum
Established1966
LocationCape Canaveral Space Force Station, Brevard County, near Cape Canaveral, Florida (main center)
100 Space Port Way
Port Canaveral, Brevard County (History Center)
Coordinates28°26′39″N 80°34′16″W / 28.44417°N 80.57111°W / 28.44417; -80.57111
TypeAerospace museum
Websiteccspacemuseum.org

The Cape Canaveral Space Force Museum (formerly the Air Force Space and Missile Museum) is located at Launch Complex 26 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. It includes artifacts from the early American space program and includes an outdoor area displaying rockets, missiles, and space-related equipment chronicling the space and missile history of the US Air Force, the US Space Force and other military branches.[1]

The museum is accessible to the public as a part of the "Cape Canaveral Early Space Tour" offered by the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex four days per week. Free tours were also offered by the former Air Force 45th Space Wing Community Relations office until June 2013.[2] The 45th Space Wing became Space Launch Delta 45 in May 2021 following establishment of the Space Force.

The Sands Space History Center, a companion to the museum, is open to the general public six days a week. The History Center is located just outside the south gate of Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.[3]

A part of the first stage of a Titan rocket was transferred to the museum in 2023.[4]

Facilities

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Sands Space History Center

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Sands Space History Center

The Sands Space History Center (formerly known as the United States Air Force Space and Missile History Center) is an extension of the Air Force Space and Missile Museum outside the gate 1 of the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station which opened to the public August 14, 2010. It is located in a 3,200-square-foot (300 m2) facility and highlights the progress and history of the space program.[5] The museum features displays which chronicle the story of each of the launch pads from its establishment in 1949 as the Joint Long Range Proving Ground.[6] Exhibits contain artifacts dating back to the 1950s and include parts to launch vehicles and control systems.[5]

Unlike the Air Force Space and Missile Museum, its sister museum which is located inside gates of the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, the center does not require special arrangements or a fee-based tour to visit. Admission is free and it is open to the public six days per week.[7]

Hangar C

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During the museum's early history, many of the museum's missiles were on display in an outdoor area known as the "Rocket Garden". Over the years, the central Florida heat, humidity, and ocean air gradually degraded the outward appearance and internal structure of most of the exhibits. The missiles were removed from outdoor display and restored.[8][failed verification] They were then placed in storage until a suitable display area could be found. Eventually, historic Hangar C was secured as the future public display area. The oldest hangar on the Cape (Hangars A and B were built on Patrick Space Force Base), for a time served as a central missile assembly facility for nearly all Cape launch activity. Once it was determined that Hangar C would serve as a central display area for much of the museum's large artifacts, it underwent extensive renovation to make it suitable for public access. In early 2020 public tours conducted by the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex began making stops at Hangar C as part of the newly introduced "Rise to Space" tour (separate and distinct from the "Early Space" tour).

A Navaho missile from the collection was placed back on display at the south gate of the station in 2021.[9]

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  • Rocket garden before artifact relocation
    Rocket garden before artifact relocation
  • Gemini 2 spacecraft
    Gemini 2 spacecraft
  • Boilerplate version of Gemini spacecraft (now on display in Hangar C)
    Boilerplate version of Gemini spacecraft (now on display in Hangar C)
  • EMD SW8 switching locomotive from the U.S. Air Force Titan program; LC-19 white room at right (interior not accessible)
    EMD SW8 switching locomotive from the U.S. Air Force Titan program; LC-19 white room at right (interior not accessible)
  • Delta launch as seen from rocket garden
    Delta launch as seen from rocket garden
  • GPS ground monitor station
    GPS ground monitor station
  • LC-26 blockhouse, now housing part of the museum
    LC-26 blockhouse, now housing part of the museum
  • Thor-Able (now on display in Hangar C)[10]
    Thor-Able (now on display in Hangar C)[10]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Florida Today. The Fact Book: Your Guide to Brevard County (Melbourne, Florida: Florida Today, February 28, 2004), p. 118.
  2. ^ "Air Force Space & Missile Museum". Archived from the original on 2018-05-23. Retrieved 2017-12-23.
  3. ^ "Visit the Museum" Air Force Space and Missile Museum Archived 2018-09-12 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved March 23, 2011
  4. ^ Tribou, Richard (20 January 2023). "Piece of Gemini history returns to Cape Canaveral after nearly 60 years". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  5. ^ a b Brevard Business News. Air Force's Missile History Center opens, showcases many exhibits (Melbourne, Florida: Brevard Business News, September 06, 2010), p. 4.
  6. ^ "Space museum is 'go' for launch for Cape Canaveral AFS | floridatoday.com". Florida Today. Archived from the original on 16 August 2010. Retrieved 2010-08-13.
  7. ^ "Space & Missile History Center To Open At Cape Canaveral". Florida Today. 1950-07-24. Archived from the original on 20 August 2010. Retrieved 2010-08-13.
  8. ^ "Pershing II missile returns to CCAFS after renovations". DVIDS. 6 November 2020. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  9. ^ Scott, Heather L. (31 March 2021). "Historic Navaho missile welcomes visitors once again to CCSFS". Space Operations Command. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  10. ^ "Museum". Archived from the original on 2020-08-03. Retrieved 2020-09-02.
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