The initial plans for the rocket were proposed in 1962. The rocket created was called the "ELDO-A", later renamed "Europa-1". It measured in length and weighed more than 110 tons. "Europa-1" was planned to put a payload of – into a circular orbit above earth. The three stages consisted of the Blue Streak stage, the French Coralie stage, and the German stage. The first stage, the Blue Streak stage, was to fire for 160 seconds after launch. The second stage, the French Coralie stage, fired for the following 103 seconds. The third and final stage, the German stage, fired for an extra 361 seconds to launch the rocket into Earth's lower orbit. The first stage was a development of Blue Streak and was built in Stevenage, Hertfordshire U.K.