Sardinia was ESRO's main rocket launch site during its early programmes. The launch site was in the Sardinian mountains at Perdasdefogu, a village which was also an army, air force and naval base. Not much air force or navy work in the mountains though!

Skylark payload

Payload preparation

Cleanliness control!

Man-handling a Centaure rocket

A Centaure launch pad

Rocket and booster off to the launch pad

The launch

Cleared the tower!

Just after the launch

A recovered booster