24 December 1979, 17:14 UTC

Launch of the first ESA Ariane 1, 24 December 1979. (ESA)
Launch of the first ESA Ariane 1, 24 December 1979. (ESA)

24 December 1979: The first European Space Agency Ariane 1, a four-stage expendable launch vehicle, was launched at Ensemble de Lancement Ariane 1 (ELA-1), Centre Spatial Guyanais, Kourou, Guiana. The rocket was designed to place two communications satellites into a geosynchronous transfer orbit.

© 2016, Bryan R. Swopes

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About Bryan Swopes

Bryan R. Swopes grew up in Southern California in the 1950s–60s, near the center of America's aerospace industry. He has had a life-long interest in aviation and space flight. Bryan is a retired commercial helicopter pilot and flight instructor.