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Tuesday 8am - 3:30pm Wednesday 8am - 3:30pm Thursday 8am - 3:30pm Friday 8am - 3:30pm

SMC Heritage Center

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SMC Heritage Center

The SMC Heritage Center is the adjunct branch of the US Air Force Museum at the Space and Missile Sy

The SMC Heritage Center is an adjunct Air Force History Office Museum documenting the history of military space developments in the Los Angeles area mostly since 1954, when the mission to design the first ICBMs was given to the Air Force.

08/24/2019

The SMC Heritage Center Museum will be closed temporarily from Monday August 26, 2019 until mid-October due to construction. Hopefully we will be able to announce the re-open date.

06/14/2019

June 11, 1957
AF BMD launched the first Atlas flight test missile (the first US ICBM) from Cape Canaveral. It was destroyed in flight because of a premature engine shutdown, but it provided valuable data. The first full-duration Atlas flight would occur in December 1957.

06/04/2019

Thank you to Judy Burnett, Rolando Ventura, and Lt Col Porter for hosting the Heritage Center booth and providing tours on Retiree Day, June 1, 2019. There was great participation on the tours with lots of questions and interaction. Email [email protected] to start planning your Heritage Center visit.

05/24/2019

On May 2nd, fourth grade students from St Lawrence Martyr visited the Heritage Center at Los Angeles Air Force Base for a tour and STEM event. Among other teaching moments, the students learned about the Armillary in the Schriever Space Complex, commissioned for the Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) by the Air Force Association's Chapter 147 to commemorate twenty five years of military space. If you would like to plan a visit, email [email protected]. We hope to see you there!

04/26/2019

The fourth of April 2019 the JR ROTC contingent from Cimarron High School in Las Vegas came all the way to SMC for a visit to the SMC Heritage Center and to receive some in depth mentoring from SMC military members on life in the United States Air Force working in the field of military space. Carla Rosepryor from Public Affairs expertly organized the visit with Maj Jamal Williams from Cimarron High. Capt Ha from Remote Sensing offered a historical perspective on the operation of the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program, showcasing the beautiful DMSP satellite bus on display in the Gordon Conference Center and his own experiences in the field. Lt Gouri from Global Positioning discussed the path that led to her engineering career in the Air Force and fielded multiple questions on her experiences. Lt Nguyen from Advanced Systems discussed his career and also participated in the round table discussions that morning. Then the group visited the SMC Heritage Center to immerse themselves in the world of military space and the rich history of its accomplishments. If you would like to do the same, email [email protected] to start planning your visit.

04/19/2019

The third of April St. Peter and Paul Middle School stood below the Armillary Sphere in the Schriever Courtyard at the Space and Missile Systems Center (Home of Military Space!) at the beginning of their visit to the SMC Heritage Center and STEM Program. They had a choice of three monuments in the courtyard for their group photo. They chose well in deciding to have the photo taken in front of the Armillary. It is a monument that has often been used to represent SMC and now it is the emblem used by the SMC Heritage Foundation which supports the SMC Heritage Center. The Armillary was commissioned in 1978 by the Air Force Association’s Chapter 147 and created by artist Jack Brogan of San Pedro. The inner rings of the monument represent the Earth, while the outer rings represent the tracks of satellites developed by SMC orbiting around it. The sculpture was unveiled in 1979 by Gen Schriever (then retired), Secretary of the Air Force Hans Mark, and others. It was originally located in front of SMC’s old headquarters across the street from SMC, but it was moved to its current location in 2006. If you would like to bring your school group to visit, start by emailing your contact info and preferred dates for visiting to [email protected].

04/13/2019

The SMC Heritage Center received a package this past week from one of the school groups, St. John Fisher School that visited Los Angeles Air Force Base on 14 March 2019. The students contemplated their visit, took the time to take stock and think about what made the largest impression on their visit to SMC to see the SMC Heritage Center and participate in STEM Activities. What resulted was a collection of cards carefully created by the students depicting images from their visit and words of thanks to the whole team for making the visit possible. If you’re curious what these cards look like, plan a visit to see the SMC Heritage Center and its associated Local Art Wall which features these cards. Email us at [email protected] to plan your visit!

03/29/2019

Like Atlas holding up the world, these students from Leland Elementary School stepped up to show their appreciation for one beautiful, shiny monument (The Armillary) in the Schriever Space Complex, commissioned for the Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) at Los Angeles Air Force Base by the Air Force Association's Chapter 147 to commemorate twenty five years of military space...and that was back in 1979 when it was unveiled. The SMC Heritage Center, which Leland Elementary came to visit on the 29th of March 2019, tells the story of military space and showcases its artifacts, some of which have actually flown in space! Then the students were treated to a rocket seminar by the SMC STEM Program and launched rocket they built themselves. Want to bring a smile to your face...like the ones in this collage?...Send your email with contact info to this address: [email protected] to arrange for your group's tour. See you there!!

03/28/2019

The evening of 20th of March 2019, our SMC Heritage Center and SMC STEM Organization worked together again to support a local STEAM event at Montemalaga Science Night by teaching about the History of Military Space andoffering age specific STEM activities to entice youth into the sciences. Rolando Ventura, SMC Heritage Center Volunteer from Harris Corporation (pictured in the red jacket) and Lt Col Porter, Director of SMC's STEM Program and his team are seen in the following collage...as you can see...the younger we encourage our community youth to increase their understanding of how things work, the more excited they become to learn and delve into the world of science, technology, engineering, arts and math! Interested in bringing your gorup to the SMC Heritage Center and SMC STEM Organiztion at Los Angeles Air Force Base, send your contact information to [email protected].

03/27/2019

The first operational Air Force satellite ccommunications system was called IDCSP, launched during 1966-68. It served primarily strategic users with large ground terminals. For example, fixed terminal in Vietnam allowed direct communication with Washington D.C. during the Vietnam war. But tactical users with smaller, mobile terminals also needed satellite communications, and experiments during 1960s to early 70s tested space systems to provide it. Lincoln Exerimental Satellites 5 and 6 in the late 1960s and the Tactical Communications Satellite in 1970 provided the first UHF capability for tactical military users. These experiments paved the way for the Fleet Satellite Communications System (FLTSATCOM), the first operational system serving tactical users. The Navy managed the overall program, but SAMSO managed the development, acquisition, and deployment of the satellites, which were built by TRW.

03/22/2019

Girl Scout Troop 3331, brought to visit SMC by Lt Col Shibata, stop to have their picture taken with Capt Canaday while on a trip to the SMC Heritage Center to survey an artifact from one of the many early military space programs. They learned from Milsatcom's Capt Canaday about the innovative early space reconnaissance program which used a deorbiting bucket to return film to earth for photo interpretation in the 1960's. The students were also able to touch and examine up close and personal, a piece of returned space debris...Lots to see and learn! Then after the SMC Heritage Center tour, and after viewing the 9 foot statue of General Bernard a. Schriever...father of military space (donated to SMC by Air Force Association's Chapter 147) Lt Col Porter and his team of volunteers offered a STEM workshop...cool stuff, robotics, rockets and more!! Interested in bringing your group? Email us at [email protected]. See you there!

Address

SMC/HO 483 N Douglas Boulevard
El Segundo, CA
90245

Opening Hours

Tuesday	8am - 3:30pm
Wednesday	8am - 3:30pm
Thursday	8am - 3:30pm
Friday	8am - 3:30pm

Telephone

+13106533009

Website

http://www.smcheritagefoundation.org/

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