Cape Canaveral Space Force Station

Cape Canaveral Space Force Station is a military spaceport in Brevard County, Florida, stretching for several miles along the Atlantic coast. The facility includes dozens of launch pads, control centers, hangar buildings, and testing areas used for military and commercial rocket launches.

The facility was established in 1949 as the Joint Long Range Proving Ground for American military rocket testing. During the 1950s and 1960s, the first ballistic missiles and later launch vehicles for crewed programs were developed and tested here.

The site stretches along a coastal strip that has been linked to crewed and uncrewed spaceflight for decades. Visitors see launch pads and technical installations that recall earlier programs such as Mercury and Gemini.

Access is possible only through guided tours departing from the neighboring Kennedy Space Center, which must be booked in advance. Participants undergo security checks and are not permitted to carry bags or electronic devices.

The location near the equator gives launching rockets additional speed from Earth's rotation, saving fuel. Spent rocket stages also fall over the Atlantic, avoiding populated land.

Location: Brevard County

Inception: 1949

Part of: Space Launch Delta 45, Eastern Range

Website: https://patrick.spaceforce.mil

GPS coordinates: 28.48889,-80.57778

Latest update: December 12, 2025 22:24