Technicians work on European Space Agency EXOSAT satellite.

European Space Agency (ESA) EXOSAT satellite launch,May 26, 1983 , from the Vandenberg space complex in Santa Barbara, California, United States. Technicians work on the satellite. Satellite ready for launch atop Thor-Delta rocket. Control room filled with personnel and monitoring systems and screens. Count-down completes, rocket ignites, and satellite is launched in a blast of fire and smoke. Pieces of rocket fall away as satellite speeds towards orbital destination..