 Fifty years ago, on September 29, 1962, Canada entered the space age with the launch of Allouette 1. Hi. Welcome to the Canada Science and Technology Museum Corporation in Ottawa. Currently, we are in one of four artifact storage facilities the museum has. With Allouette, Canada became the third country after the USSR and the USA to have its own satellite in orbit. From space, Allouette probed the ionosphere, a layer of the atmosphere used to reflect radio waves for long-distance communications. Data sent to ground stations was then used by scientists to study how the ionosphere affected radio communications in Canada's north. Four Allouette satellites were produced, a structural model, a prototype, and two for launch, Allouette 1 in 1962 and Allouette 2 in 1965. In engineering milestone and scientific success, Allouette 1 contained many technical lovelies, solar panels, transistors, and extendable stem antennas. Long-lasting NICAD batteries contributed to the satellites longer than expected life. The prototype shown here serves as a reminder of Canada's entry into space and contribution to the international space effort. The success of the Allouette and ISIS satellites pictured in the background enabled Canada to develop a domestic space program in communications, earth observation, research, testing, and robotics. Happy 50th anniversary, Allouette, and congratulations to all that worked on making this program a success that it was. Looking forward to the next 50 years of Canada in space.