Telstar - Credit: Sven Grahn. 10,348 bytes. 176 x 188 pixels.

The first active-repeater communications satellite, Telstar demonstrated the feasibility of transmitting television images, telephone, telegraph and radio messages on a global basis. Launched by a Delta booster, Telstar first went into orbit on July 10, 1962. Telstar II was orbited on May 7, 1963. Both satellites were highly successful. NASA provided launch vehicles and tracking facilities on a reimbursable basis. Prime Contractor: American Telephone and Telegraph Company, management by Bell Telephone Laboratories.

Total Mass: 78 kg.

First commercial comsat; active repeater. Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C).

Active repeater. Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C).

• 2 - McDowell, Jonathan, The United Nations Registry of Space Objects, Harvard University, 1997. HTML when accessed: http://hea-www.harvard.edu/QEDT/jcm/space/un/un.html
• 6 - JPL Mission and Spacecraft Library, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 1997. HTML when accessed: http://msl.jpl.nasa.gov/home.html
• 405 - Aerospace Yearbook, 1966, .