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ESA (2)-the first flight of Ariane 1
From "50 Years of ESA:1975-2025"

On November 19,1978, not much of importance was happening in the world. It was the Monday of Thanksgiving week in the US. In the Soviet Union, Alexei Kosygin was receiving American Secretary of Agriculture John Knebel on a visit related to potential joint agricultural projects between America and the USSR. In Vienna,torrential rain had put paid to a pro-Communist student riot. In New Zealand,a new Liberal government had just been swept into power. In the US,the news headlines included former President Richard Nixon headlining a book tour for the first volume of his memoirs,a potential new bull market in 1979 following the Oil Recession,and the New York Jets gearing up for the 12th Super Bowl. But all this would be equalled by a test flight taking place at the Kourou test range in French Guiana.

The rocket had been sitting on its pad 5 days when the final countdown began at 8:40 am local time (7:40 am in New York, 4:40 am in Los Angeles, 12:40 pm in London and Paris, and 4:40 pm in Moscow). It was the first Ariane rocket. Its payloads? Two. ESA's Cat-1 test satellite and NASA'a Explorer 60, aka Atmosat.

At 8:42,the rocket lifted off with a whine. Ascending into the sky,it looked like a pencil. On its side was written Messager Stellaire, or Starry Messenger (1). Three minutes in,the core stage burned out and fell away. At 8:50,the ascent was complete. All systems looked good,and the payloads were released.

(1)-Totally made up

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