Patrick AFB celebrates 60 years of launches from its Eastern Range

Col. Lee Rosen, 45 Space Wing Launch Group commander, was the presiding officer for the 60th anniversary celebration of the inuagural launch from the Eastern Range. 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.

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Patrick AFB honors 60th Anniversary of historic launch

Published July 23, 2010
By 1st Lt. Karl Wiest
45th Space Wing Public Affairs

Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. -- 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.

Patrick AFB celebrates 60 years of launches from its Eastern Range