Communications satellites: The experimental years

Abstract This paper traces the developmental years from 1958 to 1964, of all the technologies through experimental and developmental satellites. These “experimental years” resulted in making satellite communications not only possible, but practical and profitable in a short period of time. Very rapidly, projects with names like Score, Carrier, Echo, Telstar, to name a few, were pursued; satellites built and launched; ground stations constructed; and transmission systems developed—completely setting the stage for commercial operation of communications satellite systems—all in 6 years.