The much-delayed first satellite launch from Alaska took place on 1 October, with a Lockheed Martin Athena 1 solid propellant booster carrying four Kodiak Star space technology payloads into orbit from Kodiak Island. The payloads, Starshine 3, Picosat, PCSat and Sapphire, were launched for NASA and the US Air Force. Kodiak Island becomes the 18th land-based satellite launch site, since the Baikonur Cosmodrome was established in 1957. Launches have also been made from the air, offshore platforms and a submarine.
Source: Flight International
