Vandenberg Air Force Base was the nation’s first space and ballistic missile operational and training base. Beginning with its first launch, a Thor Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM) on December 16, 1958, it has been the launch site of many of America’s military satellites and polar-orbiting satellites.
U.S. Army
YearAdded:
Image Credit:
Courtesy Flickr/DVIDSHUB (CC BY 2.0)
Image Caption:
Delta IV Launch at Vandenberg Air Force Base
Era_date_from:
1942
2009
During the 1930's, research into advanced ballistic measurement techniques began at Aberdeen Proving Ground—the world's first large-scale, fully-instrumented ballistic range producing data on the aerodynamic characteristics of missiles in free flight.
YearAdded:
Image Credit:
Courtesy U.S. Army RDECOM
Image Caption:
High Explosive shells at Aberdeen Proving Ground
Era_date_from:
1943
1982
Innovations
During the 1930's, research into advanced ballistic measurement techniques began at Aberdeen Proving Ground—the world's first large-scale, fully-instrumented ballistic range producing data on the aerodynamic characteristics of missiles in free flight.
Although this research had begun…
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Vandenberg Air Force Base was the nation’s first space and ballistic missile operational and training base. Beginning with its first launch, a Thor Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM) on December 16, 1958, it has been the launch site of many of America’s military satellites and polar-…
Read More