Summary: The New Mexico Museum of Space History has closed Rocket Park for about 90 days to restore the Little Joe II, a rare test rocket acquired in 1984. The 68-foot, 41,000-pound vehicle endured decades of desert exposure and will receive exterior conservation work. Little Joe II was tested at White Sands from 1963–1966 to validate the Apollo program’s Launch Escape System; its nickname refers to a dice-roll called the “Little Joe.”
Rare Little Joe II Rocket Under Restoration — New Mexico Museum’s Rocket Park Temporarily Closed
Summary: The New Mexico Museum of Space History has closed Rocket Park for about 90 days to restore the Little Joe II, a rare test rocket acquired in 1984. The 68-foot, 41,000-pound vehicle endured decades of desert exposure and will receive exterior conservation work. Little Joe II was tested at White Sands from 1963–1966 to validate the Apollo program’s Launch Escape System; its nickname refers to a dice-roll called the “Little Joe.”
11:16 AM, 11/14/2025Science
Little Joe II Undergoes Conservation at New Mexico Museum of Space History
The New Mexico Museum of Space History has temporarily closed its Rocket Park while restoration specialists carry out a planned conservation project on one of the museum’s most prized artifacts: the Little Joe II rocket. The museum, which received the rocket in 1984, is home to one of only two known surviving examples of this test vehicle.
What’s happening: Measuring 68 feet tall and weighing about 41,000 pounds, Little Joe II’s aluminum body has endured decades of sun and desert heat. To preserve the rocket for future generations, conservators will repair and stabilize the exterior during an expected 90-day restoration period.
Historical significance: Little Joe II was tested at White Sands Missile Range between 1963 and 1966. The rocket played a key role in qualifying the Apollo program’s Launch Escape System, helping ensure astronauts could safely separate from the launch vehicle in an emergency.
Nickname origin: The name “Little Joe” reportedly came from a NASA engineer who thought the rocket’s four large fins resembled the “Little Joe” roll in the dice game craps.
Source: KRQE News 13. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc.
The museum says the restoration work is primarily focused on exterior conservation and protective measures; staff expect Rocket Park to reopen after the project is complete and the artifact is deemed stable for display.