2 replies to this topic

[starman876]

first telescope that humans launched into space was in 1962 

 

In April 1962, the U.K. sent Ariel 1 into orbit. It has the distinction of not just being the first space telescope launched, but also the first international satellite, as it was a collaborative effort between the United States and Britain. The United States had started a program that supplied launches to allied nations conducting scientific work, and the British were looking into solar, UV and X-ray radiation [source: Frommert]. Ariel 1 conducted six experiments, which included measuring solar radiation and studying the ionosphere, where charged particles hang out in the upper atmosphere.

[Redbetter]

Not the oldest, the first.  Its re-entry date was in 1976.  So the satellite was in orbit for 14 years, although it was only operational off and on through 1964.

 

It is worth asking if it was a telescope.  It had a Lyman-alpha detector which would qualify, but that failed during launch.  So it was not the first operational space telescope, even if it was the first one launched into space.

[Terra Nova]

Before 1962! Earlier than Arial-1, "the first optical spy satellite was CORONA C-9 (aka Discoverer 14), which was jointly operated by the United States Air Force and the Central Intelligence Agency. This satellite was launched on 18 August 1960 and its film capsule was recovered on 16 September."

 

https://www.guinness...g-photo-optical

 

I believe it's telephoto lens system counts as a telescope, even tho it looked down rather than up.