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                   The History of Satellite Communications

 

Oct. 4, 1957 -- The world changed forever when the Soviet Union launched into orbit a basketball-sized satellite named Sputnik. Circling the Earth at 18,000 mph, Sputnik (Russian for "fellow traveler"), became history's first man-made satellite. Its launch stunned the world and began the Space Age.

A model of Sputnik.   Photo courtesy of NASA Glenn Research Center.
Jan. 31, 1958 -- Embarrassed by the Soviet victory, the U.S. quickly refits a missile rocket and launches Explorer I, a 30-pound, 80-inch satellite into orbit.

June 1960 -- The first Echo satellite, a 135-foot diameter Mylar-coated balloon is sent into orbit and radio waves are bounced off of its mirror-like surface.

1961 -- RCA Corp. launches Relay I, one of the first satellites with a repeater device which captures radio waves and amplifies them before sending them back.

A 1965 version of the Echo satellite.                                              

Photo courtesy of NASA Glenn Research Center.

NASA scientists hold up an Exlorer I model. Photo courtesy of NASA Glenn Research Center.
1962 -- the telecommunications age begins with the launch of TELSTAR I,  a low-orbit satellite that beams the first live television broadcasts between Europe and the United States. With TELSTAR's success, a global satellite technology consortium called INTELSAT is created.

NASA scientists prepare Telstar I for launch. Photo courtesy of NASA Glenn Research Center.
July 26, 1963 -- INTELSAT launches Syncom II, the first fully operational gyosynchronous satellite, providing  the first uninterrupted satellite transmissions.

 

 

 

 

 

Syncomm II. Photo courtesy of NASA Glenn Research Center.

 
1960 -- Tiros I, the world first Orbiting Observation satellite is launched. Soon, satellites  are mapping cloud cover, weather patterns and global climate change.

Tiros I.                  Photo courtesy of NASA Glenn Research Center.
1965 -- The Soviet Union, Indonesia, Japan and Canada launch satellite systems to provide telephone and television service to their most-remote citizens.  

A satellite in orbit. Photo courtesy of  NASA Glenn Research Center.

 

 

 

 

 

1977-'79 -- AT&T, RCA and Western Union launch communications satellites with government assistance. In 1979, the satellite industry is deregulated, allowing commercial rocket companies to compete for launches.  In 1978, PBS Broadcasting becomes the first  TV network to  transmit programs to its affiliates via satellite. In   1981, the U.S. Space Shuttle program begins, offering an inexpensive way  to launch satellites.  

 

 

A satellite ready for launch in a Space Shuttle cargo bay. Photo courtesy of NASA Glenn Research Center.
1980 -- Home satellite TV begins with the first sales of backyard dishes.   In 1988, the Federal Communications Commission allows satellite broadcasters to "scramble" signals so dish-owners can't steal signals.    By 1996, there are 6 million U.S. homes with satellite TV dishes.

A home satellite system from DirecTV. Photo courtesy of DirecTV.com.
April 4, 1990 -- The Hubble telescope satellite is launched, providing deep space pictures that prove the existence of black holes, photograph distant galaxies and discover  the size and age of the Universe.

 

The Hubble telescope. Photo courtesy of NASA Glenn Research Center.

 
 

A GPS tracker.                 Photo courtesy of Garmin.com

 

 1994 - The first Global Position Satellite constellation (a network of 24 geosynchronous satellites) begins operation, allowing pilots, boaters and motorists to instantly locate their exact position.
1995-1997 -- Companies worldwide launch satellite constellations providing global coverage for their customers. From 1995 to 1997, $100 million a  month is spent on communications satellite programs worldwide.

1998 to 2003 -- The satellite industry goes into decline. First, the spread of fiber optic technology (which offers better video quality, higher data transfer and no time delay) is more appealing to consumers for phone, video and Internet service. Second, the grounding of the Space Shuttle program makes launches by rockets more expensive. And third, a global economic crisis slows down new satellite projects.

 

An artist's depiction of a satellite constellation.

Photo courtesy of the U.S. Department of Defense.
2004 and beyond -- New technology developed by Hughes Network Systems could solve the time-delay problem that has made satellites unpopular for Internet users. The Spaceway constellation, which will launch in 2005, will handle more capacity at greater speed than any satellites in existence.

 

Right: Spaceway, Hughes' satellite system of the future launches in 2005.                               

Photo courtesy of Hughes Network Systems.