First Satellite Launches by Country

The USSR orbited Sputnik 1 from Baikonur in October 1957. The United States answered with Explorer 1 from Cape Canaveral in January 1958.

France launched Asterix from Hammaguir in Algeria in 1965. Japan put Ohsumi up from Uchinoura in February 1970, and China followed with its first satellite from Jiuquan that April.

Britain orbited Prospero from Woomera in October 1971 using its own rocket. India joined with Rohini from Sriharikota in 1980, Israel with Ofeq 1 from Palmachim in 1988, and Iran with Omid from Semnan in 2009.