posted 07-23-2010 01:07 PM               

Patrick AFB honors 60th Anniversary of historic launch

The 45th Space Wing celebrated the 60th anniversary of the inaugural launch from its Eastern Range here today.

This historic launch, which featured a Bumper 8 launch vehicle and was primarily composed of a captured V-2 rocket, occurred on July 24, 1950.

"The Bumper 8 was a significant launch in space history," said Col. Lee Rosen, 45th Space Wing Launch Group commander and the presiding officer for the anniversary event. "It paved the way for modern spacelift operations that we use today as the world's premiere space faring nation."

The Bumper launches were designed to investigate launching techniques and to gather data on staging events and maneuvers at high velocity. Furthermore, the Bumper was able to reach higher altitudes than any other missile had achieved up to that time and proved to be a strong foundation for further launch experimentation and future missile designs.

The mission of the 45th SW is to assure access to the higher frontier in support of global operations, while delivering space effects that protect and defend our nation through Global Vigilance, Reach and Power.

posted 07-23-2010 01:08 PM               

First Cape Canaveral launch 60 years ago gave birth to 'Bumper' crop of liftoffs

Sixty years ago Saturday morning (July 24), a 62-foot rocket stood ready to launch from the east coast of Florida, destined to make history — not so much for where it was going, but for where it was departing.

Bumper 8, a two-stage vehicle built from a U.S.-modified, World War II-captured German V-2 missile and a sounding rocket upper-stage, became the first to liftoff from what is now known as Cape Canaveral.