The United States launched a balloon satellite - 12 feet in diameter, and weighing 15 pounds - from the space station at Wallops Island, Virginia, USA, Feb 16. But officials could not say whether it had gone into orbit around the earth.

It was intended to reveal information about the earth's atmosphere. The fourth stage of the "Scout" rocket (it was confirmed) had gone into orbit, and the balloon had separated successfully. Early signals were received at Johannesburg, South Africa, and Woomera, Australia. And then no more was heard: the plastic and aluminium balloon was "lost".

The "Scout" - a wholly solid fuel rocket - is nicknamed "the poor man's rocket" because of its comparatively low cost.