UK5 (or Ariel V, as it became known after launch) was an X-ray astronomy satellite, carrying six instruments, all British (Exp.s A and C designed and built at MSSL) except one (the All Sky Monitor, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center responsibility). With its capability for measuring positions and spectra of cosmic X-ray sources, Ariel V brought about many fundamental discoveries in the fast advancing field of high energy astrophysics.

The spacecraft was launched on 15 October 1974 by a Scout rocket from the Italian San Marco launch platform (a former oil rig) off the coast of Kenya, near Malindi. Launches were monitored from the nearby Santa Rita platform. Experimenters were accommodated on the mainland and taken by 'sea bus' to and from the platforms every day.

Human-size UK5 spacecraft

UK-5 experiment A

UK-5 experiment C

Jocelyn Bell Burnell, John Ives and UK-5 exp. C

UK-5 exp. A description

UK-5 exp. C description

Kenya: The daily going to work ... (John, Steve Holt, John Smith, Prof. Boyd)

Daily bus for UK5

Experimenters room (John and Steve)

Santa Rita platform

John on Santa Rita

Raising UK5 for launch on San Marco

UK5 ready for launch

UK5 launch

UK5 just after launch