In 1973, eleven European countries decided to pursue joint collaboration in the field of space exploration and formed a new pan-national organization to undertake this mission, the European Space Agency (ESA). For some time prior to the ESA's formation, France had been lobbying for the development of a new European expendable launch system to serve as a replacement for the Europa rocket; one proposed successor in the form of a refined Europa, referred to as the Europa IIIB, was studied but was found to be too ambitious and costly.

MADE in the USA

Approximately 4” Diameter