December 10, 2022 | Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, FL
January 7, 2022
2022 Featured Rocket: RTV-G-4 Bumper
We are excited to reveal the 2022 featured rocket of the Space Force T-Minus 10-Miler will be the RTV-G-4 Bumper! The featured rocket will be portrayed on the official race shirts, finisher medals, commemorative patches, and more throughout 2022.
Bumper 8, First Launch from the Cape, 24 July 1950, Pad 3
Historical Background
The German-American RTV-G-4 Bumper coupled a V-2 with a WAC Corporal second stage. The first six initial launches failed with the exception of launch five, which reached an altitude of 393 km. On July 24, 1950 at Launch Complex 3, Bumper 8 became the Cape’s first launch. The Bumper reached the upper atmosphere to meet the initial objective, but the flight was only partially successful as the second stage failed to ignite. Five days later, Bumper 7 launched from the Cape and was successful by reaching 5260 kph. Fragments from the blockhouse/launch control from this launch are on display at the Air Force Space & Missile Museum at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, FL.
Space Force T-Minus 10-Miler
The United States Space Force inaugural T-Minus 10-Miler will lift-off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station next year, Dec. 10, 2022. This 10-mile race will be a part of the Space Force birthday celebration each year, and will take place surrounded by space launch history.
