# Ariel 1

> ionospheric research satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q636557](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q636557)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ariel_1)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ariel-1

## Summary
Ariel 1 was an ionospheric research satellite launched on April 26, 1962, as part of the UK's Ariel programme. It was developed by the Science and Engineering Research Council and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, with the Goddard Space Flight Center playing a key role in its construction.

## Key Facts
- Launched on April 26, 1962, from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17
- Mass: 62 kilograms
- COSPAR ID: 1962-015A
- NSSDCA ID: 1962-015A
- Launch vehicle: Thor-Delta (Flight 9)
- Operators: Science and Engineering Research Council and NASA
- Part of the Ariel programme
- Deorbited on May 24, 1976
- Followed by Ariel 2
- Aliases: UK-1, UK1, UK 1, Ariel-1, International Ionosphere Satellite, S-51, S51, 1962 Omicron 1, أرييل ١

## FAQs
### Q: What was Ariel 1's primary mission?
A: Ariel 1 was designed to study the ionosphere, a region of Earth's upper atmosphere, to better understand its structure and behavior.

### Q: Who built Ariel 1?
A: Ariel 1 was built by the Goddard Space Flight Center in collaboration with the Science and Engineering Research Council.

### Q: When was Ariel 1 launched?
A: Ariel 1 was launched on April 26, 1962, from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17.

### Q: What was the launch vehicle for Ariel 1?
A: Ariel 1 was launched using a Thor-Delta rocket, specifically Flight 9 of the Thor-Delta launch system.

### Q: What happened to Ariel 1 after its mission?
A: Ariel 1 re-entered Earth's atmosphere and deorbited on May 24, 1976.

## Why It Matters
Ariel 1 was a pioneering satellite in the study of the ionosphere, contributing valuable data to our understanding of Earth's upper atmosphere. As part of the Ariel programme, it laid the groundwork for future ionospheric research, including the successful Ariel 2 mission. Its findings helped advance space weather prediction and communication technologies. The satellite's relatively small size and mass (62 kg) demonstrated the feasibility of conducting significant scientific research with compact spacecraft. Ariel 1's legacy continues to influence modern ionospheric studies and satellite design.

## Notable For
- First satellite in the Ariel programme, paving the way for subsequent missions
- Studied the ionosphere, a critical region for radio communication and space weather
- Launched on a Thor-Delta rocket, a reliable but now-retired launch system
- Developed by NASA and the UK's Science and Engineering Research Council
- Followed by Ariel 2, which continued its ionospheric research

## Body
### Mission and Objectives
Ariel 1 was launched to investigate the ionosphere, a region of Earth's atmosphere ionized by solar radiation. Its primary goal was to study the structure and behavior of this layer, which affects radio communications and space weather.

### Launch Details
- **Date:** April 26, 1962
- **Location:** Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17
- **Launch Vehicle:** Thor-Delta (Flight 9)
- **Mass:** 62 kilograms

### Development and Collaboration
- **Manufacturer:** Goddard Space Flight Center (NASA) and Science and Engineering Research Council (UK)
- **Operators:** Science and Engineering Research Council and NASA

### Legacy and Follow-Up
- **Followed By:** Ariel 2, another radio astronomy satellite
- **Deorbit Date:** May 24, 1976

### Technical Specifications
- **COSPAR ID:** 1962-015A
- **NSSDCA ID:** 1962-015A
- **Aliases:** UK-1, UK1, UK 1, Ariel-1, International Ionosphere Satellite, S-51, S51, 1962 Omicron 1, أرييل ١

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Ariel 1",
  "description": "Ionospheric research satellite launched in 1962 as part of the UK's Ariel programme.",
  "sameAs": ["https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6272367", "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ariel_1"],
  "additionalType": "ArtificialSatellite"
}

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
3. [Source](https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1962-015A)