Ariel 1 launch anniversary celebrated with commemorative stamps The series features six images including spectacular views of the Sun and Mars, all captured by missions of the European Space Agency of which Britain is a member. The stamps also include views of Venus, Saturn, the Lutetia asteroid and Titan, the largest moon of Saturn, will be available in post offices and online from October 16. Ariel 1 was launched from Cape Canaveral on April 26, 1962, taking 100 minutes to orbit the Earth and making Britain the third country after the USA and USSR to launch a satellite. The satellite was greatly significant, not just because it was the first time Britain had launched something into orbit, but because it marked the beginning of the UK's little known but burgeoning space economy. It carried six experiments designed by British scientists, including equipment to measure radiation from the sun and record the density and temperature of electrons and iron particles in the atmosphere. Within six months of its launch it became clear that a US high-altitude nuclear test in July 1962, code-named "Starfish," had damaged solar panels and was affecting the performance of the satellite. Nevertheless, Ariel 1 continued circling the planet until April 1976, when it finally decayed out of orbit and crashed to Earth. Andrew Hammond, Royal Mail Stamps spokesperson, said: "Britain has played an important role in space exploration over the last half a century and our Space Science issue is a fitting tribute. We're delighted to be bringing stunning imagery of our solar system right onto the nation's doorsteps through this latest stamp issue.