Slice of History - Then & Now: Space Flight Operations Facility (SFOF)

The Space Flight Operations Facility (SFOF) has been undergoing so many renovations over the past few years! This side-by-side, taken 1964-09-03 and 2021-09-21 show just how much SFOF has changed (or not) over time.

As of 1963, directly behind the Central Engineering Building (CEB), which became the new headquarters for the Lab, SFOF was under construction. The hub of JPL, SFOF has hosted such historic moments as the launch of Rangers and Mariners all the way to Mars2020, JPL staff orientations, and the rise of the Lucky Peanuts. As a facility that played such a critical role in the history of space exploration, SFOF was designated a national historic landmark in July 1994.

Today, SFOF is a regular stop on JPL general tours, open houses, and other JPL-hosted events. From its amazing viewing gallery, to the Lucky Peanuts, to the Center of the Universe, SFOF remains one of the main highlights of the JPL landscape. CL#21-5954