Near Cape Canaveral in Brevard County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

First United States Space Launch

31 January 1958

Photographed by Craig Baker, 2017

1. First United States Space Launch Marker

Inscription. On this date the U.S. Army’s Ballistic Missile Agency launched the United States’ first space craft—Explorer 1. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the State University of Iowa developed the satellite payload which was launched on an Army Jupiter-C rocket. Explorer 1 made significant contributions to the exploration of space with the discovery of the Van Allen Radiation Belts.

We salute the dedicated soldiers and civilians who answered the nation’s call and blazed the trail for future generations of space explorers.

Placed here in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Explorer 1.

Erected 2008 by USASMDC/ARSTRAT; Jet Propulsion Laboratory; Army Space Professional Association; and ITT Corporation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Air & Space. A significant historical date for this entry is January 31, 1958.

Location. 28° 26.668′ N, 80° 34.318′ W. Marker is near Cape Canaveral, Florida, in Brevard County. It can be reached from Museum Circle 0.2 miles south of Lighthouse Road, on the left when traveling south. Located in front of the Cape Canaveral Space Force Museum, only accessible during historical tours of Kennedy Space Center. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 191 Museum Cir, Cape Canaveral FL 32920, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Florida’s Space Coast.

It is also in the American South.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other

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markers are within walking distance of this marker: Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (here, next to this marker); Launch Complex 26 (a few steps from this marker); Launch Site of America's First Satellite, Explorer I / The Space Race Begins (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Launch Complex 26 (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Launch Complex 26 (within shouting distance of this marker); Explorer I (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Launch Complex 26 (within shouting distance of this marker); Juno II (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cape Canaveral.

Also see . . .
1. Cape Canaveral Space Force Museum. (Submitted on August 1, 2020.)
2. Explorer 1. Wikipedia (Submitted on August 3, 2020.)

Photographed by Craig Baker, 2017

2. First United States Space Launch Marker

Cape Canaveral Space Force Museum image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, 2017

3. Cape Canaveral Space Force Museum

Credits. This page was last revised on February 13, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 1, 2020, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 499 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 1, 2020, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.