Communications Satellite, Telstar

Object Details

Manufacturer

AT&T

Summary

Launched on July 10, 1962, Telstar 1, developed by the American Telephone and Telegraph Company (AT&T), was the world's first active communications satellite. AT&T used the satellite to test basic features of communications via space.

Soon after launch, Telstar enabled the first transatlantic television transmission, linking the United States and France. In November 1962, Telstar's electronics became compromised through exposure to Van Allen Belt radiation, resulting in the satellite's deactivation in February 1963.

Telstar was one of the most significant communications satellites of the early space age. It raised an important policy question: Should communications satellites be operated and controlled by private corporations or under government auspices? The United States chose government direction and created two new institutions, COMSAT and INTELSAT, to develop satellite communcations, an arrangement that lasted for more than two decades.

This Telstar is a backup spacecraft to Telstar 1 and 2 (launched respectively in 1962 and 1963), transferred from the National Museum of American History to the Museum in 2006.

Alternate Name

Telstar

Key Accomplishment(s)

First Active Communications Satellite

Impact or Innovation

Telstar inaugurated an age of instant worldwide communications via satellite.

Brief Description

Telstar, launched in 1962, was the first active communications satellite: it received microwave signals from ground stations and retransmitted them across vast distances back to Earth. It was the model for all subsequent communications satellites.

Credit Line

Transferred from National Museum of American History

Inventory Number

A20070113000

Restrictions & Rights

Usage conditions apply

Type

SPACECRAFT-Uncrewed-Communications

Materials

HAZMAT: Cadmium Plating, Magnesium

Satellite: Aluminum alloy, ferrous alloy, glass, silicon, magnesium alloy, nylon, paint, copper alloy, gold plating, silver plating, laminated labels, nickel-cadmium battery, polyethylene, and zinc chromate

Base: Rubber, wood, ferrous alloy, plastic, aluminum alloy, and cadmium plating

Dimensions

Overall (Satellite with red antenna cover): 86.4 × 111.8cm, 86.9kg (2 ft. 10 in. × 3 ft. 8 in., 191.5lb.)

Overall (Crate base): 111.8 × 111.8 × 55cm (3 ft. 8 in. × 3 ft. 8 in. × 1 ft. 9 5/8 in.)

3-D (Cylindrical base mounting - diameter of center cylinder): 23.7cm (9 5/16 in.)

3-D (Cylindrical base mounting - diameter of outer collar): 26.7cm (10 1/2 in.)

3-D (Cylindrical base mounting - L-shaped projection): 1.9cm (3/4 in.)

Country of Origin

United States of America

See more items in

National Air and Space Museum Collection

National Air and Space Museum

Record ID

nasm_A20070113000

Metadata Usage (text)

Not determined

GUID (Link to Original Record)

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv92a44c25d-9056-47d1-992b-ebe4c4899531