The beginnings of the Missile and Space Intelligence Center can be traced back to the development of missiles by the U.S. Army at Redstone Arsenal, AL, under the leadership of Dr. Werhner Von Braun, MG John B. Medaris, and a team of German scientists. In June 1956, the U.S. Army Ballistic Missile Agency established a special security office known as the Technical Intelligence Division, whose mission was to analyze and report on foreign missile-related activities.
In 1962, this division was renamed the Missile Intelligence Office (MIO). This group, initially staffed with engineers from Redstone and intelligence analysts from around the country, established its presence early when chosen by the Central Intelligence Agency to lead the technical assessment team during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
In 1967, the DIA identified MSIC as one of six national Scientific and Technical Intelligence (S&TI) production centers. From 1970-1985, the organization was known as the Missile Intelligence Agency. The name changed to the Missile and Space Intelligence Center in 1985 when MSIC moved from the Army's Research and Development Community to the Intelligence Community as part of the Army Intelligence Agency. In 1992, Congressional legislation moved MSIC to the DIA.
The Cold War strategy of Mutually Assured Destruction relied heavily on MSIC's analysis to defeat Soviet air defenses and antiballistic missile systems.
From the U.S. strike against Libya, El Dorado Canyon, to Desert Shield/Storm, to Operation Enduring Freedom, to Operation Iraqi Freedom, to ongoing global crises, MSIC employees have deployed directly in theater to provide real-time weapon expertise to aircrews and intelligence support personnel for operational planning.

CBS News “60 Minutes” showcased ballistic missile analysis by DIA’s Missile and Space Intelligence Center as part of a 13-minute segment on North Korean missile capabilities.
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In this “Beyond the Beltway” episode, we take a behind-the-scenes look at DIA’s Missile and Space Intelligence Center (MSIC), located in Huntsville, Ala. An integral part of DIA’s Directorate for Analysis, MSIC provides key intelligence support to our nation’s warfighters, policymakers and weapons developers. The “Beyond the Beltway” series highlights the numerous contributions of DIA teams working outside the Washington, D.C., area.
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CNN Features DIA's Missile & Space Intelligence Center in Huntsville, AL. In this segment, CNN highlights the danger posed by threat weapon systems that are analyzed by DIA's Missile and Space Intelligence Center.
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Missile and Space Intelligence Center
4545 Fowler Road
Redstone Arsenal, AL 35898
General Driving Directions
From I-565, take Research Park Boulevard (Alabama Highway 255) south. Coming from the West, this would be Exit 14. Coming from the East, it would be exit 14A.
Research Park Boulevard becomes "Rideout Road" as you enter Redstone Arsenal.
Proceed south on Rideout Road through Gate 9 until you reach the Toftoy Thruway. Exit left onto the Toftoy Thruway, following it until it dead ends. Take a right onto Fowler Road. Take the first right to enter the Richard C. Shelby Center for Missile Intelligence.
If you do not have the proper credentials to enter Redstone Arsenal (see Redstone Access below), you must stop at the Arsenal Visitor Center at Gate 9 (I-565 & Rideout Road). It will be on your right as you approach Gate 9.
Redstone Arsenal Access
Visitors WITH a CAC or military ID may enter any Redstone gate without prior notification.
Visitors WITHOUT a CAC or military ID must be authorized in advance by MSIC Security. To facilitate that, visitors must provide their MSIC POC with full name, SSN, date(s) of visit, company name, work phone number and employment status (Military, Government Civilian, or Contractor). The MSIC POC must provide this information to MSIC Security at least 48 hours prior to the visit in order for Arsenal access to be authorized. Once authorization has been established as described above, visitors may obtain badges for Arsenal access at the Redstone Arsenal Visitor Centers located at Gate 9 - Rideout Road
More information about Redstone Arsenal can be obtained at Redstone Arsenal.