Do you know the List of First 28 Countries That Sent a Satellite Into Space? What are the names of the satellites and the spirit behind them? Keep reading for the answers.
Humans have been exploring and visiting space for a long time, but only a few countries have dared to make the journey to space. This post delves into the names of these countries, the names they gave to their sites, and the year they made it to space, among others. Join us in this intriguing and educational post on the 28 Countries That Ever Sent a Satellite Into Space.
Way back in 1957, Russia was the first country to travel to space. They were then the Soviet Union. The countries that made up the Soviet Union included Moldova, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Ukraine. The satellite for the expedition was named Sputnik 1, which means “Fellow Traveler” It signified the first artificial satellite.
After their success, the United States made their first successful journey with the Explorer 1 satellite in 1958. The name of the satellite, Explorer 1, reflected the mission of the United States, which was to explore and discover space.
In 1962, the United Kingdom became the third country to make it to space via a satellite by the name of Ariel 1. Ariel 1 was crafted from the air-borne spirit of Ariel, a character from Shakespeare’s “The Tempest.”
List of First Countries That Sent a Satellite Into Space
Canada and Italy joined the proud countries that entered the space of our world in 1962 and 1964 respectively. Take a look at the full list of 28 countries.
| Country | Year | Satellite Name | Meaning Behind Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| ☭ Soviet Union | 1957 | Sputnik 1 | “Fellow Traveler,” signifying the first artificial satellite |
| United States | 1958 | Explorer 1 | Reflecting its mission of exploration and discovery |
| United Kingdom | 1962 | Ariel 1 | Referencing the air-borne spirit of Ariel, a character from Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” |
| Canada | 1962 | Alouette 1 | Meaning “lark” in French, symbolizing its high-altitude observation capabilities |
| Italy | 1964 | San Marco 1 | Named after the launch site, San Marco platform near the equator |
| France | 1965 | Astérix | Inspired by the indomitable comic book character Asterix |
| Australia | 1967 | WRESAT | Acronym for “Weapons Research Establishment Satellite” |
| ESRO | 1968 | ESRO 2B | “European Space Research Organization” with sequential numbering |
| West Germany | 1969 | Azur | French for “azure,” referencing the satellite’s blue-colored sensors |
| Japan | 1970 | Ohsumi | Named after the Ōsumi Peninsula, the launch site in Japan |
| China | 1970 | Dongfanghong I | Translates to “The East is Red,” a popular Chinese song symbolizing hope and progress |
| Netherlands | 1974 | ANS | “Amsterdam Netherlands Satellite” representing its Dutch origin |
| Spain | 1974 | Intasat | Abbreviation for “International Telecommunications Satellite” highlighting its purpose |
| India | 1975 | Aryabhata | Named after the ancient Indian mathematician and astronomer Aryabhata |
| Indonesia | 1976 | Palapa A1 | Referencing the Palapa ring, a symbol of unity in Indonesian culture |
| Czechoslovakia | 1978 | Magion 1 | Derived from “magic” and “ionosphere,” alluding to the satellite’s research focus |
| Bulgaria | 1981 | Bulgaria 1300 | Reflecting its Bulgarian origin and launch year |
| Saudi Arabia | 1985 | Arabsat-1A | Highlighting its pan-Arab purpose and communication goals |
| Brazil | 1985 | Brasilsat Al | Representing its Brazilian origin and role in telecommunications |
| Mexico | 1985 | Morelos 1 | Named after José María Morelos, a hero of the Mexican War of Independence |
| Sweden | 1986 | Viking | Evoking the spirit of exploration and connection to Viking heritage |
| Israel | 1988 | Ofek-1 | Meaning “horizon” in Hebrew, symbolizing the satellite’s wide-ranging capabilities |
| Luxembourg | 1988 | Astra 1A | Named for the Greek goddess Astraea, associated with justice and celestial bodies |
| Argentina | 1990 | Lusat | Abbreviation for “Luxembourg Satellite,” referencing its joint development with Luxembourg |
| Hong Kong | 1990 | AsiaSat 1 | Highlighting its role in Asian satellite communications |
| Pakistan | 1990 | Badr-1 | Meaning “full moon” in Arabic, symbolizing enlightenment and progress |
| Russia | 1992 | Kosmos 2175 | Part of the Kosmos satellite series, with sequential numbering |
| South Korea | 1992 | Kitsat-1 | Acronym for “Korean Institute of Technology Satellite” |