ESA - the first 30 years     Roger Elaerts, Head of ESA's Education Department   ESA’s first telecommunications satellite, OTS-1, was lost in September 1977 when its US launch vehicle, a Delta 3914 launcher, exploded soon after liftoff. OTS-2 was launched successfully the following year and remained in orbit for 5 years.   First telex ever sent by an ESA telecommunications satellite. The telex was transmitted by ESA's OTS satellite on 25 May 1978.   Lesley Bonnefoy, Administrator, Human Resources Division, ESA Paris Release date: 22 October 2008