History: ESRO-1 satellite, 1968

ESRO-1, 1968: ESRO-1 solar simulation testing at ESTEC in July 1968. The first satellites of the European Space Research Organisation (ESRO) concentrated on solar and cosmic radiation and its interaction with Earth. ESRO-2 looked at solar X-rays, cosmic radiation and Earth's radiation belts, while ESRO-1A simultaneously examined how the auroral zones responded to geomagnetic and solar activity. Direct measurements were made as these high-energy charged particles plunged from the outer magnetosphere into the atmosphere. ESRO-1B was launched into a lower, circular orbit - meaning that reentry was inevitable after a few weeks - to provide complementary measurements. ESRO-1A was launched on 3 October 1968 and reentered 26 June 1970; ESRO-1B was launched on 1 October 1969 and reentered 23 November 1969.