Ariel is a series of British research satellites. Ariel 1 was designed to study solar radiation and its impact on Earth's ionosphere. April 26, 1962 at 18:00 UTC · Launch Successful Thor Delta — United States Air Force, to Low Earth Orbit Space Launch Complex 17A, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA The world's 161st orbital launch attempt, and 19th of 1962. Data: Launch Library 2, The Space Devs. Image by NOAA via The Space Devs.