Sands Space History Center, Cape Canaveral

About Sands Space History Center

The Sands Space History Center, located just outside Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Florida, displays historic information and artifacts from the station's space missions. Visitors explore exhibits dedicated to each Launch Complex at the facility, examining key artifacts including an Atlas Booster Engine Model, a Mercury Boilerplate Capsule used to train recovery forces during the Mercury manned space flight program, a Heatsink Nose Cone from Apollo launches, a Jupiter Nose Cone from Jupiter Intermediate Range Ballistic Missiles, and an ASSET Vehicle Research glide vehicle. The center documents the history of the Air Force, Space Force, and space exploration. General admission is free, and no Cape access pass is required to visit. The facility includes a gift shop and restrooms inside the building, with a shaded picnic area outside where visitors can bring lunch. The history center was renamed after Major General Harry J. "Bud" Sands Jr., who originally proposed creating a museum dedicated to Cape Canaveral's space history.