WIKIARCHIVES.SPACE

The 50th anniversary ceremony at Cape Canaveral celebrating the first rocket launch, begins with presentation of the colors by the 45th Space Wing Honor Guard. Standing on the dais are (left to right) Major Gen. Jimmey Morrell, USAF (Ret), who is chairman of the Air Force Space & Missile Museum Foundation, Inc.; Brig. Gen. Donald Pettit, commander of the 45th Space Wing; Roy Bridges Jr., center director at KSC; and Florida Sen. George Kirkpatrick. The ceremony was hosted by the Air Force Space & Missile Museum Foundation, Inc., and included launch of a Bumper 8 model rocket, presentation of a Bumper Award to Sen. Kirkpatrick by the National Space Club; plus remarks by Sen. Kirkpatrick, KSC's Center Director Roy Bridges, and Pettit. Also attending the ceremony were members of the original Bumper 8 team. A reception followed at Hangar C. Since 1950 there have been a total of 3,245 launches from Cape Canaveral.