NASA Wallops Flight Facility

NASA's Wallops Flight Facility, established in 1945 by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, is one of the oldest launch sites in continuous use in the world. This facility was built to conduct aeronautical research using rocket-propelled vehicles. Following several test launches on 27 June 1945, the first research rocket launch occurred on 4 July 1945. With the birth of NASA in 1958, Wallops contributed to the development of components of space flight programs, capsule escape, and recovery techniques. Wallops became part of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in 1981 and emerged as the agency's primary facility for suborbital programs.

Department of Historic Resources, 2023