Ariel 1

Also called UK-1 (S-51).

Designation:	00285 / 1962 Omicron 1 / 62015A
Launch date:	26 Apr 1962 - 18:00 UT
Launch site:	CC, LC17A
Launch vehicle	Delta-DM19 (#320/D9)
Mission:	Scientific: ionosphere study
Earth orbit:
Perigee/Apogee	398/1203 km
Inclination	53.8°
Period	100.8 min
Decay:	24 May 1976

First British astronomy satellite, contained six British experiments researching particles and fields.
Four paddles held solar cells to keep the batteries charged. It transmitted on 136.41 Mc/s, but the signals became intermittent in the third week of July, after the 9th July 1962 high altitude nuclear test by the USA.
The satellite found a "ledge" of ionized particles at a height of 725-800 km.
The launch had been delayed by an hour, because on the command of launch, nothing happened. Checks were made and nothing found, and the launch was made successfully at the second attempt.
Transmissions ceased on November 1964.

Specifications:

Ref.: #1, #7, #15, #102(SL19) - update: 27.12.04