ESRO 1 turned out to be such a successful mission for its time that ESRO
decided to launch the spare spacecraft and instruments as a new mission
(into a different orbit and a more dangerous environment), thus the naming
ESRO 1A for the original spacecraft and ESRO 1B for the subsequent one.
Please note the size of the spacecraft!
The pictures below were contributed by Mr P. J. Caseley (ESTeC Project
Engineer): I worked with him on ESRO 1A and 1B, ESRO 4, for a small amount
on Giotto and ISO. We are still in communication (since ~1966).
ESRO 1A at ESTeC
ESRO 1A in solar simulation at ESTeC
ESRO 1A on a trolley at ESTeC
People at ESTeC (including Tom Patrick,
Peter Sheather and Tom Bowling)
People at ESTeC (including Peter Sheather,
Tom Patrick and Tom Bowling)