As post-war development of missile weapons progressed, a site became necessary to develop tactics and techniques for guided missile operations. Cape Canaveral was selected as this site for several reasons. Covering 15,000 acres, the Cape was relatively isolated from heavily populated areas, but was accessible by road, rail, and shipping. Rockets launched from the Cape could also take advantage of the rotational speed of the Earth, which is greatest at the Equator. Therefore, the relative position of Cape Canaveral required less rocket engine thrust than would have been necessary elsewhere. The weather at the Cape was also favorable most of the year.

   On May 9, 1950, work began to construct the first permanent access road and launch sites on Cape Canaveral. The first area developed for launch operations became known as Launch Pads 1, 2, 3 and 4. The construction of Port Canaveral was begun in July, 1950. The deep water port was originally intended to allow the berthing of range instrumentation and cargo ships, but was later expanded to service ballistic missile submarines and commercial vessels. Although Launch Pads 1, 2, 3 and 4 and their associated support buildings were barely under construction, the Army scheduled launches of two modified German V-2 rockets for July, 1950. The rockets were called Bumper, and each employed a V-2 rocket as first stage and a Without Any Control (WAC) - Corporal rocket as second stage. The Bumper rockets were serviced from paint scaffolding purchased in the Orlando area. A pine telephone pole served as an umbilical tower. Army-issued mattresses were used to catch the umbilical connections as they fell away from the rocket at launch. Bumper #7 was scheduled for launch on July 19, 1950. The rocket misfired on the launch pad. As a result, on July 24, 1950, Bumper #8 became the first rocket launched from Cape Canaveral.