was the UK with Ariel 1 in 1962, 5 years prior to Australia's WRESAT satellite, followed by Canada's Alouette 1 and Italy's San Marco 1 in 1964. However, all of these were launched on US American rockets, and therefore do not qualify as self-launches. The statement 'third country to launch a satellite" alludes to the space race which in those days was about the prestige of having an access to space, the satellites in themselves where rudimentary and of little impact in that initial race. Therefore, if one considers self launched satellites only, the first 5 countries were,
Slashdot Mirror
Nonetheless, all space exploration is a difficult enterprise, so congratulation to Australia to pursue its upward goals and god speed to them!