24 December


The Ariane launch vehicle family
   
The Ariane launch vehicle family
 
1979: On 24 December 1979, the first Ariane 1 was launched.
 
The first pan-European space launch vehicle had been called 'Europa'. Its first stage was a British 'Blue Streak' ballistic missile. The second stage was French and the third German. This project was plagued with difficulties due to unreliability – the project was scrapped without a single successful launch.

Europa was succeeded by 'Ariane 1' which was based on a replacement design for Europa.
 
 
  
Last update: 6 January 2005


Today in space history

 •  23 December (http://www.esa.int/esaSC/SEMB6BXLDMD_index_0.html)
 •  22 December (http://www.esa.int/esaSC/SEM06BXLDMD_index_0.html)
 •  21 December (http://www.esa.int/esaSC/SEMC123AR2E_index_0.html)
 •  20 December (http://www.esa.int/esaSC/SEMA5BXLDMD_index_0.html)
 •  19 December (http://www.esa.int/esaSC/SEMY4BXLDMD_index_0.html)
 •  18 December (http://www.esa.int/esaSC/SEMN4BXLDMD_index_0.html)
 •  17 December (http://www.esa.int/esaSC/SEMC4BXLDMD_index_0.html)

Related links

 •  A history of European space science (http://www.esa.int/esaSC/SEMJCC67ESD_index_0.html)