Alouette Canadian satellite. This was the first Canadian satellite, and the first satellite built and operated by a country other than the USA or USSR, to enter orbit. It was launched on 29 September 1962 from NASA's Pacific Missile Range, California, USA. The satellite had a diameter of approximately one metre. Its four telemetry antennas are seen protruding from the top of the satellite. Alouette was used to study the effect of the ionosphere on radio communications. Alouette was switched off in 1974, but still remains in Earth orbit (as of 2008).