Rohini-1, first Indian satellite, launched 1980

India officially entered the space age following the successful launch of Rohini-1 (Rohini Satellite 1 or RS-1), July 18, 1980. It was manufactured by the Indian Space Research Organization. India became the seventh country with its own ability to launch satellites. It was launched from Satish Dhawan Space Center.  It carried instruments such as a sun sensor, magnetometer, and temperature sensors.

It was planned to have a lifespan of 100 days, but it remained in orbit for 20 months.

Ariel 1 launched 1962

England became the third country in the world to operate a satellite, launching Ariel 1 April 26, 1962 from Cape Canaveral.  It was a joint effort between NASA and the UK.  It was named after the sprite in Shakespeare's The Tempest.

In July 1962, it was damaged by the Starfish Prime high-altitude nuclear test, which destroyed or damaged several other satellites.  Although it continued to operate, the radiation disabled the timer which would have deactivated the satellite after one year.  Thus, it extended its life and Ariel 1 re-entered the atmosphere in May 1976. 

Diwata-1, first Filipino satellite, launched from ISS 2016

Mission emblem

The Philippines launched their first satellite, Diwata-1, from the International Space Station April 27, 2016.  It was the first satellite built and designed by Filipinos.  It was launched from Earth on March 23 aboard a supply mission to the ISS.

Diwata-1 was designed for many different uses, among which were monitoring the extent of damage from typhoons and measure changes in vegetation and phytoplankton in Philippine waters.  It was decommissioned March 20, 2020 and entered the Earth's atmosphere April 6.

Vanguard 1, oldest surviving man-made satellite, launched 1958

Vanguard 1, an American satellite, was launched March 17, 1958.  It was the fourth satellite to be successfully launched, following Sputnik 1, Sputnik 2 and Explorer 1.  Vanguard 1 was the first satellite to have solar electric power.

It transmitted radio signals for over 6 years before contact was lost in May 1964.  It remains the oldest man-made object still orbiting the Earth.  Estimates had Vanguard 1's orbit lasting for 2000 years, but with atmospheric drag and other factors, it's expected to decay in about 240 years.

Iran launches its first satellite, Omid 2009

Iran launched its first domestically manufactured satellite Omid February 2, 2009, becoming the ninth country to do so.  It was a 16" cube weighing about 60 lb.  It was to monitor natural disasters since Iran is prone to earthquakes, and to improve its telecommunications.

Omid orbited for about seven weeks and re-entered Earth's atmosphere in April 2009.

Sputnik 3 launched 1958

Sputnik 3, launched May 15, 1958, was the third Soviet satellite to achieve orbit and the only one launched in 1958, the International Geophysical Year.  During Stalin's reign, scientific interchange between East and West had been interrupted so this was a way to being a new era of collaboration.  Sixty-seven countries participated in IGY projects.

Its launch was attempted on April 27, but 90 seconds after lift-off, strap-on boosters broke off and the whole thing crashed back to Earth about 140 miles away from the Baikonur site.  The satellite had separated from the launch vehicle and was recovered nearby almost intact.  After it was taken back to Baikonur Cosmodrome, an electrical short started a fire and the satellite could not be reused.

A backup booster and satellite were launched successfully on May 15.  Sputnik 3 was a scientific laboratory in space with twelve instruments on board.  It re-entered the atmosphere and burned up on April 6, 1960.

Dong Fang Hong 1, China's first satellite, launched 1970

China joined the space age when it launched its first satellite Dong Fang Hong-1 on April 24, 1970.  China became the fifth country behind the Soviet Union, the U.S., France and Japan, to independently launch a satellite.  Dong Fang Hong-1 weighed a whopping 381 lbs, which was more than the weight of the previous satellites combined.

Its primary purpose was to analyze the ionosphere and atmosphere, but for 20 days, it broadcast "The East is Red", the name of the satellite.  Its signal stopped on May 14, however, it remains in orbit.

Atlantis (STS-36) launched 1990

 

Left to right: Pierre Thuot, John Casper, John Creighton, Richard Mullane, David Hilmers

Mission patch

Space Shuttle Atlantis, launched February 28, 1990, was the sixth flight for Atlantis and carried a classified payload for the U.S. Department of Defense.  Its crew consisted of Commander John Creighton, Pilot John Casper, mission specialists Pierre Thuot, David Hilmers and Richard Mullane.

It has been theorized that the crew deployed a reconnaissance satellite "Misty" for the DoD, but that is still classified.

Atlantis returned to Earth March 4.

Kosmos 2175, first Russian (not Soviet) satellite launched 1992

Kosmos 2175, launched January 21, 1992, was the first satellite launched by Russia after the breakup of the Soviet Union.  It was a photo reconnaissance satellite that was deorbited and recovered in March 1992.

I could not find any videos about it online, not even the launch.

Kwangmyongsong-3 Unit 2 (1st North Korean satellite) launched 2012

An accomplishment met with universal apprehension and skepticism, North Korea launched their first satellite, Kwangmyongsong-3 Unit 2, December 12, 2012.  Previous attempts had failed, despite the North Koreans declaring all were successful.  This was the first satellite that tracking stations around the world could track and observe.

North Korea became the 10th country to obtain the technology to launch its own satellites.  North Korea claimed Kwangmyongson-3 Unit 2 is to estimate crop yields collect weather data and assess the country's forest coverage and natural resources.

Other countries aren't so sure. 

A few days after launch, ground observers noted the satellite was tumbling out of control.  The North Koreans responded by saying "it's supposed to do that!" but since it was meant to keep constantly pointing toward Earth, this seems unlikely.

An overly-exuberant newsanchor reports the successful launch of Kwangmyongson-3 Unit 2.

Australia launches its first satellite, WRESAT, 1967

Australia entered the space age when it launched its first satellite, WRESAT (Weapons Research Establishment Satellite) November 29, 1967.  Australia became the seventh nation to launch a satellite and the third to launch from its own territory.  Earlier, France became the third nation to send a satellite into space from its own space program, but Asterix was launched from Algeria, so that doesn't count. 

It re-entered the atmosphere January 10, 1968 after 642 orbits.  During its time in space, WRESAT extended range of scientific data relating to the upper atmosphere, but it also demonstrated the Australian capability for developing technology and launching artifical satellites.

France becomes third country to launch its own artificial satellite, Asterix, 1965

France became the third country to launch its own satellite, Asterix, November 26, 1965, after the USSR and the United States.  However, France is the sixth country to have an artificial satellite in orbit.  The United Kingdom, Canada and Italy launched satellites before but on American rockets.

Asterix was intended to take measurements of the ionosphere, but stopped transmitting after two days.  Some reports state that it failed to transmit at all.  Due to its high orbit, it is not expected to  re-enter Earth's atmosphere for several centuries.

The Netherlands enter the Space Race 1974

August 30, 1974, the Netherlands launched their first satellite, Astronomical Netherlands Satellite or ANS (I know.  Kinda mundane).  The program was jointly funded by the Netherlands Institute for
Space Research and NASA and ran for 20 months, ending in June 1976.

Launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, ANS carried an X-ray detector and an ultraviolet telescope.

Ghana enters the space race!

Tiny African country Ghana has entered the space race, becoming the first sub-Saharan country to launch a satellite.  GhanaSat-1 was launched from Kennedy Space Center in June 2017, released from the International Space Station last month, and began orbiting last week.

With support from the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency, the satellite was designed, assembled and tested by three students at All Nations University for a price tag of about $500,000.  It is a tiny satellite, measuring about 4” square and weighing about 1kg.  GhanaSat-1 will monitor the coastline for mapping and data collection.  It could also monitor illegal mining activities. 

Ghana hopes its entry into the space race will attract wealthy investors and increase employment.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GhanaSat-1

http://ghheadlines.com/agency/pulse/20170708/48572035/ghanasat-1-benefits-ghana-could-derive-from-space-science

http://www.theweek.co.uk/space/87600/africa-joins-space-race-should-ghana-be-over-the-moon

White House proposing deep cuts to NOAA, destroying jobs, not creating them

The Donald, who promised often during his campaign that he would create jobs, has proposed deep cuts (up to 18%) to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and would eliminate funding for smaller programs, one which seeks to bolster coastal areas to withstand rising seas.

NOAA's satellite division would lose $513 million.  NOAA relies on data from its satellites to predict and track serious weather, such as hurricanes and tornadoes, to warn people of danger.

Another cut would eliminate a coastal research program that is conducted through thirty-three universities across the country.  Many of those universities are in states that went for The Donald in the election, such as Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Florida and North Carolina.

Cuts like these are certain to eliminate jobs as well.  Didn't The Donald promise to create jobs?  Am I mistaken?  Trumpsters?


https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2017/03/03/white-house-proposes-steep-budget-cut-to-leading-climate-science-agency/?postshare=4181488643431975&tid=ss_tw&utm_term=.b3d58084eed3

Britain becomes 6th country in space, 1971

Prospero was the first British satellite successfully lauched on a British  rocket October 28, 1971, joining the U.S., Soviet Union, France, China and Japan already in orbit.  Britain had previously launched a satellite, Ariel 1, in 1962 but that was on an American rocket.

Its operations ceased May 1973 when its tape recorder failed and officially deactivated in 1996 but it was still being heard reportedly in 2004.

Its orbit should decay about 2070, so mark your calendars!