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A number of nations other than the United States and Russia have developed rocket and space programs. These programs are much smaller than the U.S. and Russian programs. Most of them concentrate on single applications such as the launching of scientific satellites. European nations. Several European nations built boosters to launch small scientific research satellites. In 1965, France became the first nation in western Europe to launch a satellite. Britain sent another satellite into orbit in 1971. In 1975, the European Space Agency (ESA) was organized. Its 14 Western European member nations combine their financial and scientific resources in the development of spacecraft, instruments, and experiments. ESA supervised the construction of Spacelab, launched the space probe Giotto toward Halley's Comet, and built the Ulysses solar probe. ESA also developed a series of Ariane booster rockets to launch communications satellites for paying customers. By the late 1980's, Ariane rockets were launching more commercial satellites than U.S. rockets were. ESA spacecraft lift off from Kourou in French Guiana, on the northern coast of South America. Besides its activities as a member of ESA, Germany independently built two solar probes called Helios. One probe was launched in 1974, and another was launched in 1976. These probes flew within 28 million miles (45 million kilometers) of the sun--closer than any other probe had reached. Japan became the fourth nation in space when it launched a satellite in February 1970. The nation's space program blossomed in the 1980's. In 1985, Japan fired two probes toward Halley's Comet. Two separate programs developed a family of small, efficient space boosters. The H-1 rocket, a medium-sized booster with liquid hydrogen fuel, also became operational. In 1990, Japan launched a lunar probe. In 1994, Japan launched its first heavy-lifting booster, the H-2. In 1996, an H-2 lofted the Advanced Earth Observing Satellite. The satellite began to gather data on the earth's lands, seas, and atmosphere. Japan sends small scientific research satellites into orbit from Kagoshima Space Center on the island of Kyushu. Rockets carrying larger satellites take off from Tanegashima Space Center on Tanega Island, about 60 miles (95 kilometers) to the south. Japan is developing a laboratory module for the planned International Space Station. China. In April 1970, China sent its first satellite into space aboard a CZ-1 launcher. In the 1980's, China developed impressive space technology that included liquid-hydrogen engines, powerful Long March rockets, and recoverable satellites. China has three satellite launch sites--Jiuquan, Taiyuan, and Xichang. Canada has an active space research program and a communications satellite program. That nation took part in the U.S. space shuttle program by designing and building the shuttle's robot arm. Canada is building a larger robot arm for the International Space Station. Other nations. Israel sent its first satellite into orbit in 1988. Australia has launched modified U.S. rockets from Woomera, in central Australia. Italy has launched United States rockets from the San Marco platform in the Indian Ocean, located off the coast of Kenya. Several countries, including Brazil, Sweden, and South Africa, have sent scientific sounding rockets into space.
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