The Story Of Telstar…The First Communications Satellite
On March 8, 2014
- TV History
The Story Of Telstar…The First Communications Satellite
Since we are knee deep in space launches and television’s coverage of them, I thought you would enjoy seeing this 1962 film on how the Bell System, in cooperation with NASA, developed the Telstar satellite, and participated in the launch and the subsequent successful transmission of signals to and from the earth and space.
I am fortunate enough to own a 16mm print of this.
My father worked on Telstar. In the early 60’s, he took us to an earth station in an inflated bubble in rural Maine.
The first video was our National Anthem…re-audio to get rid of the mix-minus (dbl audio) and aired the video at sign on& sign-off at a small market Texas station for a month or so…believe I still have it on 2 inch quad.. Memories…
SORRY! Link seemt to be broken, here it is again. http://techchannel.att.com/play-video.cfm/2011/9/14/AT&T-Archives-Telstar
Link no workie . . . .
I posted from my phone and thought it was a phone issue. Thanks!
Wiki states that the giant tracking “cornucopia” horn is no more, but a check shows the Andover site still has a number of dishes, owned by Verizon.
Visited the earth station site in ’65 while summer camping in Boy Scouts. Next to the JFK assassination, that b&w picture of the tracking dome and flag is forever ingrained.
Only 34″ diameter. Little guy could do a lot for his size.
I remember watching the first transmission…we thought it was so cool!