New Rocket Park renovations to begin at Space + Rocket Center

news 080323a lg — Renovations at Rocket Park are expected to look like this rendering by the time they are completed in 2024. (USSRC)

One of Huntsville’s major attractions is about to get even more attractive, as renovations and improvements to the U.S. Space & Rocket Center’s Rocket Park are set to begin this month.

These renovations are part of an ongoing effort to renew the Space & Rocket Center campus, which also includes the construction of a new Space Camp Operations Center. Here’s what we know about what’s going on at Rocket Park:

Rocket Park getting a facelift

IMG 3741 1 1 — Rocket Park will have a new look in 2024 when renovations are finished. (USSRC)

Rocket Park, the Space & Rocket Center’s impressive collection of historic rockets used by NASA, will undergo a major renovation and overhaul, which will include several improvements to the park itself.

Rocket Park was called “the finest rocket collection in the world” by Mercury astronaut John Glenn. In the park, 27 missiles and rockets show how Army rocketry launched America’s space program and gave rise to NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center.

Some significant examples of these historic launch vehicles populate Rocket Park: a Hermes, an early U.S. adaptation of the V-2 wartime rocket that stands beside it; a Jupiter C, used to launch Explorer I; a Juno II, designed to launch early satellites and space probes; and a Saturn I, the country’s first dedicated space launcher, designed to put payloads into orbit.

In addition to repainting the rockets, the improvements at the park include:

Remounting the existing rockets
A new amphitheater for educational experiences and community events
Greener and more guest-friendly spaces
Space Exploration Memorial honoring local people and companies who have contributed to space exploration
SLS Core Stage Pathfinder display

There are also plans for an interactive kiosk to be built alongside the Space Exploration Memorial where visitors can search names found on the monument and learn more about that person’s specific contributions to the advancement of spaceflight

“We are pleased to officially begin the important work of returning our collection of historic rockets to Rocket Park. These vehicles trace the origins of Huntsville’s past and current role in rocketry, and this project is a cornerstone as we update and renew our campus for future generations to come.”
Dr. Kimberly Robinson, CEO and executive director of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center

Some of the new features at Rocket Park

news 080323e lg — An amphitheater for educational purposes is another aspect of the Rocket Park renovations. (USSRC)

news 080323d lg — Rocket Park is undergoing several changes, including a new Space Exploration Memorial. (U.S. Space & Rocket Center)

Help from the Huntsville community

us space and rocket center — The U.S. Space & Rocket Center has relied on the generosity of donors to remain in operation. (Lacey Spear/Hville Blast)

The renovations and improvements could not be possible if not for the generosity and assistance from members of Huntsville’s private and corporate communities.

For instance, Fred Luddy, founder of ServiceNow, a cloud computing company, donated $500,000 to restore the five historic rockets. An additional $5 million is needed to re-mount the rockets and to implement the park landscaping plan designed by architectural firm Matheny Goldmon.

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