CAT-1

{{distinguish|Cat(1)|Cat 1 (album)}}

{{Infobox spaceflight

| name = CAT-1

| image =

| image_caption =

| mission_type = Vehicle evaluation

| operator = ESA

| COSPAR_ID = 1979-104A

| SATCAT = 11645

| mission_duration = 8 orbits

| manufacturer =

| launch_mass = {{convert|1602|kg}}

| launch_date = {{start-date|December 24, 1979, 17:14:38|timezone=yes}} UTC

| launch_rocket = Ariane 1

| launch_site = Kourou ELA-1

| last_contact = {{end-date|28 December 1979}}

| decay_date = 27 November 1989

| orbit_epoch = 23 January 1980{{cite web|url=http://planet4589.org/space/log/satcat.txt|title=Satellite Catalog|first=Jonathan|last=McDowell|work=Jonathan's Space Page|accessdate=30 September 2013}}

| orbit_reference = Geocentric

| orbit_regime = Geostationary transfer

| orbit_periapsis = {{convert|182|km|mi}}

| orbit_apoapsis = {{convert|35824|km|mi}}

| orbit_inclination = 17.6 degrees

| orbit_semimajor =

| orbit_eccentricity =

| orbit_period = 631.45 minutes

| apsis = gee

}}

CAT-1 (also Technological Capsule 1,[https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1979-104A CAT-1], NSSDC, NASA also Obélix{{cite web|title=N° 2994 - Rapport de M. Robert Lecou sur le projet de loi autorisant l'approbation de l'accord-cadre entre le Gouvernement de la République française et le Gouvernement de la République de l'Inde relatif à la coopération dans le domaine de l'utilisation de l'espace extra-atmosphérique à des fins pacifiques (n°2709)|url=http://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/13/rapports/r2994.asp|website=www.assemblee-nationale.fr|access-date=1 May 2020|publication-date=}}.) was the first artificial Earth satellite launched by the European Space Agency on their own rocket, the Ariane 1. It was only intended to provide data on the launch characteristics of the new rocket and was only powered for 8 orbits.[http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/ariane1.htm Ariane 1] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130522055957/http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/ariane1.htm |date=2013-05-22 }}, Encyclopedia Astronautica