Air Force Space and Missile Museum

Aerial photo of Complex 26 and Complex 5/6

Photo: Austin Parsons

The Air Force Space and Missile Museum at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station preserves both the hardware and the spirit of United States' ventures into space. The museum displays numerous missiles, rockets and related space equipment.

Its primary mission is to collect, restore, and exhibit items of historical significance which relate to the development and heritage of U.S. Air Force space launch activities. This unique museum highlights the Air Force as a major participant in America's space program and emphasizes activities at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station beginning in early 1950 and continuing today.

Since opening to the public in 1966, the museum has introduced millions of visitors to the history of rocketry and space flight. The museum grounds encompass two adjoining launch complexes, Launch Complex 26 and Launch Complex 5/6. Launch Complex 26 is the site of the first successful launch of an American satellite, Explorer I, in 1958 by the U.S. Army. Beginning with early Redstone, Jupiter and Juno flights in 1957, Launch Complex 26 hosted 36 launches until its deactivation in 1963. Three primates, Gordo, Able and Miss Baker, were launched here in 1958 and 1959, paving the way for future manned space flights. Launch Complex 26 also served as the site of numerous Jupiter launches as part of NATO's combat crew training program through the early 1960s. Launch Complex 5/6 is the site of the first launch of an American astronaut, Alan Shepard, into space in 1961. Learn more about visiting the museum...

The Air Force Space and Missile History Center, an extension of 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. No access pass is required for a visit. Historic information and exhibits for each launch complex at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station are on display. Learn more about visiting the History Center...

This website has been made possible by a grant from the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Museum Foundation. Its content has been produced and edited by staff members of the Air Force Space and Missile Museum and is thereby the only officially authorized website for this museum. However, this is not an official U.S. Air Force website, and its content is not necessarily the official view of, or endorsed by, the U.S. government, the Department of Defense, or the Department of the Air Force.

Features

- Public Tours of Cape Canaveral depart from the History Center every Wednesday and Thursday

- Virtual Tour of Museum is here if you can't visit in person