No, said Aziraphale, it's ineffable.

for-all-mankind

July 24, 1950 - the very first rocket launches from Cape Canaveral.

Part of the Bumper program, Bumper-WAC 8 launched from Pad 3 at Cape Canaveral at 9:28 am EDT.

A two-stage vehicle comprising a modified V2 missile and a WAC Corporal sounding rocket, the flight of B8 aimed to prove vehicle separation techniques at high speeds and altitudes for ballistic missiles in flight. The flight was operated by the U.S. Army, which controlled Cape Canaveral as part of the Long Range Proving Ground.

63 seconds after launch, the WAC Corporal separated from the modified V2 first stage. Initial telemetry reported the Corporal disintegrated, and ground controllers send the destruct command to the V2.

Although the launch was considered a success from the perspective of the launch team, ground tracking systems, and range, no aerodynamic data was gathered from the flight.

In the images above, Bumper 8 is seen on Pad 3 at Cape Canaveral in the days leading up to its historic launch. A more detailed historiography of the flight can be read here, and compiled newsreel footage can be seen below.

for-all-mankind

The first of over 3,000 launches!

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