Merritt Island in Brevard County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Chasing the Russian Bear
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
Photographed By Brandon D Cross, June 24, 2021
1. Chasing the Russian Bear Marker
Space was just for science fiction fans until the world’s first man-made satellite—the USSR’s Sputnik—beep, beep, beeped down at us from orbit. At the time, there were many views about the exploration of space. “War Hawks” imagined a future with orbiting bomb platforms and spies in the sky; “Peace Doves” saw it as the dawn of a new beginning for humankind.
Either way, America had to get something in orbit in a hurry if we were to be included in a space race that had started without us. Atop a Redstone rocket, the military’s two-stage Jupiter was stacked with an added fourth stage. Renamed Juno I, the four-stage rocket pushed the 11-pound Explorer I satellite into orbit on January 31, 1958.
Rocket Data: Juno I
Height: 71.25 ft (21.7 m)
Diameter: 70 in (1.8 m)
First stage propellants: Liquid Oxygen (LOX) and Hydyne
Upper stage propellants: Solid Fuel
Lift-off thrust: 83,000 lbs
[Caption:]
Juno I launch controllers monitor the rocket as it ascends into space, January 31, 1958.
Erected by Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space
this page online
Location. 28° 31.409′ N, 80° 40.994′ W. Marker is on Merritt Island, Florida, in Brevard County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of Space Commerce Way and NASA Parkway West, on the left when traveling east. Located within the Rocket Garden exhibit at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 405 NASA Pkwy W, Merritt Island FL 32953, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Global Television Arrives (here, next to this marker); 1957: Cold War Cooperation (a few steps from this marker); Saturn V (a few steps from this marker); Getting History Off the Ground (a few steps from this marker); Learning to Phone Home (a few steps from this marker); The Sun Rides a Workhorse (a few steps from this marker); Learning to Drive (within shouting distance of this marker); Shooting the Moon, Dreaming of Stars (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Merritt Island.
Also see . . .
1. Sputnik. NASA History Division (Submitted on June 30, 2021, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)
2. Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
Photographed By Brandon D Cross, June 24, 2021
2. Chasing the Russian Bear Marker
3. Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. NASA website (Submitted on July 1, 2021.)
Credits. This page was last revised on July 12, 2021. It was originally submitted on June 30, 2021, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 396 times since then and 26 times this year. Last updated on July 2, 2021, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 30, 2021, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.
