Europa 1

Europa I ELDO-A

Mission Profile

Europa 1 (ELDO-A) was a three-stage European orbital launch vehicle developed by the European Launcher Development Organisation (ELDO), representing Europe's first serious attempt to develop an independent satellite launch capability. Standing 31.7 meters tall with a liftoff mass of approximately 104,670 kg and generating 1,340 kN of thrust, it combined a British Blue Streak first stage, a French Coralie second stage, and a German Astris third stage. Despite a series of test flights beginning in August 1967, the Europa 1 never achieved a successful orbital mission due to recurring stage separation and guidance failures. Its troubled history ultimately led to the dissolution of ELDO and its replacement by ESA, whose Ariane program finally gave Europe the independent orbital launch capability it had sought.