Last updated: 2/1/2023
Lobo Rd
Vandenberg AFB, CA 93437
Monday - Friday
9 AM - 4:30 PM
No charge; however museum is located on an active military installation. Visitors with base access can proceed; all other guests will have to contact Vandenberg Public Affairs for base access
Free
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Donald "Jay" Prichard
phone: 805-605-8300
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30th SW Public Affairs, (805) 606-3595, DSN 276-3595
The Space and Missile Heritage Center preserves and displays artifacts and memorabilia to interpret the evolution of missile and spacelift activity at Vandenberg from the beginning of the Cold War through current non-classified developments in military, commercial, and scientific space endeavors.
Initially designated complex 75-2, construction lasted from January 1958 until October 1958, with Air Force acceptance soon thereafter. As originally designed, the SLC-10 complex consisted of three launch pads; all three were decommissioned and stripped after the Thor IRBM program launches were discontinued in June 1962. In 1964, two launch pads (designated SLC-10E and SLC-10W) were reactivated, but launches were restricted to the western pad, closest to the ocean, while the eastern pad was used strictly for training. The last launch from SLC-10E was 19 March 1962, and it was decommissioned and stripped shortly thereafter. The last launch from SLC-10W was 14 July 1980, and it was then decommissioned and kept in a caretaker status.
Both pads at SLC-10 remained untouched from 1980 through 1985. The next year, SLC-10 became a National Historic Landmark (NHL) under the National Park Service's ?"an in Space" program. The site was restored, and converted into the Space and Missile Heritage Center.
Artifact Collections:
A Thor Space Lift Vehicle in the West Pad
Artifacts from the CORONA spy satellite program
Remnants of Minuteman II, Atlas, and Peacekeeper intercontinental ballistic missiles
10th Aerospace Defense Squadron/Group records
Two administrative buildings with artifacts, and a rocket shelter with actual launch vehicle inside.
Space and Missile Heritage Center is a part of the 30th Space Wing, Vandenberg AFB, California
Site is considered an "industrial worksite" from the 1950's, and therefore has limited ADA accessibility in parts of location. The two museum buildings are ADA compliant.
Wheelchair Accessible
Parking
Restrooms
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