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Celebrating 75 years of Space Launches in Florida

 

 Florida’s Legacy of Launch:

Aerospace and the Sunshine State

 

About this Exhibit:

In 2025, Florida celebrated the 75th anniversary of our first space launch, an event that helped establish the Space Coast as the heart of America’s space program. From the Mercury missions to today’s Artemis program, Florida continues to lead the way.

With Artemis II preparing to send humans farther than they’ve traveled in decades, the state remains at the center of plans to return to the Moon and push onward to Mars and beyond. Florida’s role in space exploration isn’t just history, it’s the future.

 

About our Exhibit Partners:

Florida House, America’s Only State Embassy, is proud to partner with the U.S. Space Force Historical Foundation in commemorating 75 years since Florida’s first space launch and celebrating the newly renovated Sands History Center at Cape Canaveral.
 

 

Dr. Werner Von Braun explains the Saturn system to President John F. Kennedy at Complex 37 while President Kennedy is on tour at the Cape Canaveral AFS on Nov. 16, 1963. (Photo credit: NASA)
Dr. Werner Von Braun explains the Saturn system to President John F. Kennedy at Complex 37 while President Kennedy is on tour at the Cape Canaveral AFS on Nov. 16, 1963. (Photo credit: NASA)
The first stage of the Saturn V for the Apollo 8 mission is lifted in the Vehicle Assembly Building on Feb. 1, 1968. (Photo credit: NASA)
The first stage of the Saturn V for the Apollo 8 mission is lifted in the Vehicle Assembly Building on Feb. 1, 1968. (Photo credit: NASA)
A full moon, known as the "Strawberry Moon" is shown with NASA’s next-generation moon rocket, the Space Launch System (SLS) Artemis 1, at the Kennedy Space Center in Merritt Island, Florida, June 15, 2022. (Photo Credit: REUTERS)
A full moon, known as the "Strawberry Moon" is shown with NASA’s next-generation moon rocket, the Space Launch System (SLS) Artemis 1, at the Kennedy Space Center in Merritt Island, Florida, June 15, 2022. (Photo Credit: REUTERS)
Artemis II astronauts, from left, NASA astronaut Victor Glover (left), CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, NASA astronauts Christina Koch and Reid Wiseman stand on the crew access arm of the mobile launcher at Launch Pad 39B as part of an integrated ground systems test at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Wednesday, September 20. (Photo Credit: NASA/Frank Michaux)
Artemis II astronauts, from left, NASA astronaut Victor Glover (left), CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, NASA astronauts Christina Koch and Reid Wiseman stand on the crew access arm of the mobile launcher at Launch Pad 39B as part of an integrated ground systems test at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Wednesday, September 20. (Photo Credit: NASA/Frank Michaux)
A United Launch Alliance Vulcan rocket is scheduled to launch the Space Force mission USSF-87 in February 2026. (Image Credit: United Launch Alliance)
A United Launch Alliance Vulcan rocket is scheduled to launch the Space Force mission USSF-87 in February 2026. (Image Credit: United Launch Alliance)
American astronaut Reid Wiseman’s view of Florida just before dawn on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025 on board ISS (credit: Florida Today)
American astronaut Reid Wiseman’s view of Florida just before dawn on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025 on board ISS (credit: Florida Today)

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