A

David

Darling

ESRO (European Space Research Organisation)

ESRO 1A

ESRO 1A (Aurora) being tested at the Western Test Range before launch


ESRO (European Space Research Organisation) is an organization formed in 1962 by 10 European nations plus Australia, which made available its rocket-firing range at Woomera. Between 1968 and 1972, ESRO launched seven satellites – Iris (ESRO-2B), Aurora (ESRO-1A), HEOS-1, Boreas, HEOS-2, TD-1A, and ESRO-4 – using NASA rockets. In 1975, ESRO and its sister organization ELDO (European Launcher Development Organisation) merged to form ESA (European Space Agency).