Slice of History - 75th Anniversary of WAC Corporal

22 March marks the 75th anniversary of the first American rocket to escape Earth’s atmosphere, the JPL-Ordnance WAC! WAC (Without Altitude Control) Corporal, also known as WAC A, reached a 50 mile height after its launch from White Sands Proving Ground (WSPG). This photo, taken 29 October 1945, shows Frank Malina and WAC Corporal Project Coordinator P.J. Meeks standing with the rocket in the launcher at WSPG. WAC Corporal was initially developed as the ‘little sister’ of GALCIT’s Corporal military rocket as part of a series of rockets planned for the Army, including Private, Corporal, and Sergeant. CL#21-0084