Thursday 5 April 2012

1962, Science & Technology: Telstar

On July 10, 1962 Telstar 1 was launched on top of a Thor-Delta rocket. It was the first commercial communications satellite relaying successfully through space the first television pictures, telephone calls, fax images and live transatlantic television broadcast. Telstar 2 was launched May 7, 1963.

Telstar was a co-venture between AT&T (American Telephone and Telegraph Company), Bell Telephone Laboratories, NASA, the British General Post Office, and the French National PTT.

Assembling Telstar at the Bell Telephone Laboratories

The satellite was built at Bell Telephone Laboratories. The spherical satellite measured 87,63 cm and weighs about 77 kg, the outer surface was covered with solar cells to generate electrical power. The power produced was a tiny 14 watt.

Assembling Telstar at the Bell Telephone Laboratories
Telephone a Star (Reprint from the May, 1962, National Geographic) 

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