On July 24, 1950, the very first rocket to ever launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida blasted off into space.
The Bumper 2 was an experimental, two-stage rocket that could fly as high as 250 miles (400 kilometers) above the Earth.
Related Stories:
The rocket consisted of a V-2 missile base topped with a WAC Corporal sounding rocket, and it launched under the direction of the General Electric Company. The mission’s purpose was to test new rocket technologies and collect data about Earth’s upper atmosphere.
Related: Cape Canaveral: Launch Pad for U.S. Space Program
On This Day in Space Archive!
Still not enough space? Don’t forget to check out our Space Image of the Day, and on the weekends our Best Space Photos and Top Space News Stories of the week.
Follow us @Spacedotcom and on Facebook.
