Satellite

The first successful launch of a satellite came in October 4, 1957 when the Soviet Union put [|Sputnik I] into space. The satellite was the size of an artificial globe and took approximately 98 minutes to orbit the earth on its elliptical path. The launch of Sputnik also led to the creation of the [|National Aeronautics and Space Administraion (NASA)] in 1958. This single event launched the beginning of the space age.

=Global Village and Satellite=

With the invention of the satellite, society as a whole moved closer towards being a global village. With the formal start of the [|TELSTAR], RELAY, and [|SYNCOM] programs, the Tokyo olympics in 1964 was broadcasted worldwide and provided many with the first opportunity to see the world from afar. [|International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (INTELSAT)] formation in 1964, also known as the Early Bird provided 150 telephone "half circuits" and 80 hours of television service. INTELSAT has grown to a present-day system with more members than the United Nations and the capability of providing hundreds of thousands of telephone circuits.

=Mobile Communication=

In 1976, [|COMSAT] launched the MARISAT, the first mobile communication satellite, which provided mobile services to the US Navy and other maritime customers.

=Present day satellite=

In the United States today, there are currently six companies provided satellite services domestically and they include [|AT&T], [|Alascom], COMSAT, GTE, [|GE Americom] and [|Huges Communications]. The net worth of these services that operate 36 satellites in the world is approximately four billion dollars. Every year there are around 10-20 satellites that are launched valued at approximately $75 million each. Along with Canada which began their satellite services in 1972, it has been joined by a number of other countries Japan (1978), Australila (1985), and Mexico (1985). The communication services are now a multi-billion dollar business.

=Chronological order of satellite history=

=Work Cited=
 * 1957 Sputnik: Russia launches the first earth satellite.
 * 1960 1st Successful DELTA Launch Vehicle
 * 1960 AT&T applies to FCC for experimental satellite communications license
 * 1961 Formal start of TELSTAR, RELAY, and SYNCOM Programs
 * 1962 TELSTAR and RELAY launched
 * 1962 Communications Satellite Act (U.S.)
 * 1963 SYNCOM launched
 * 1964 INTELSAT formed
 * 1965 COMSAT's EARLY BIRD: 1st commercial communications satellite
 * 1969 INTELSAT-III series provides global coverage
 * 1972 ANIK: 1st Domestic Communications Satellite (Canada)
 * 1974 WESTAR: 1st U.S. Domestic Communications Satellite
 * 1975 INTELSAT-IVA: 1st use of dual-polarization
 * 1975 RCA SATCOM: 1st operational body-stabilized comm. satellite
 * 1976 MARISAT: 1st mobile communications satellite
 * 1976 PALAPA: 3rd country (Indonesia) to launch domestic comm. satellite
 * 1979 INMARSAT formed.
 * 1988 TAT-8: 1st Fiber-Optic Trans-Atlantic telephone cable

Laudius, Roger D. "The History of Satellites". About. 2006 retrieved Feb 26, 2006. .

Whalen, David J. "Communications Satellites: Making the Global Village Possible". About. 2006 retrieved Feb 26, 2006. .