Next Generation Communications Blog

Satellite

Bell Labs Celebrates TELSTAR Anniversary

By Susan J. Campbell

It is hard to believe but July 10 marks the 50th anniversary of the launch of TELSTAR I.  This was the first active communications satellite and its placement into orbit is considered the birth of modern multimedia global communications.

Developed and built by Bell Labs with funding from AT&T in conjunction with NASA, TELSTAR I, which was a 34 inch sphere, was a true marvel of its time.  It transformed communications. It rightfully is considered not just one of the Alcatel-Lucent research arm’s greatest historical achievements, but as President John F. Kennedy noted at the time it really was a turning point in the history of communications.

It is something worthy of a significant celebration.  

The new era TELSTAR I NASA ushered in we now take for granted — high-speed (for the time) data communications, real-time global telephone service and TV broadcasting.  
Delta launches Telstar.jpg 

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