Photo by: NASA

NASA

World Space Week: Satellites Improve Life

World Space Week is an annual event around the globe and observed in over 90 countries. The theme of this year’s celebration is “Satellites Improve Life.” Let’s take a look back at the early history of satellite launches!

October 07, 2020

On December 6, 1999, the United Nations General Assembly declared October 4 – October 10 as a time to “celebrate the contributions of space science and technology to the betterment of the human condition.” The dates reflect pivotal moments in the history of space exploration. In the era of the Space Race, Sputnik 1 was launched into low Earth orbit on October 4, 1957, and on October 10, 1967, the Outer Space Treaty came into effect. The treaty is a document that reflects the do’s and don’ts of International Space Law. Since the late 1950s to present day, there has been thousands of launches sending satellites into space. Here are some satellite launch highlights focusing on the early days of these remarkable accomplishments.

October 4, 1957: Sputnik 1

Sputnik 1 began the Space Race as the Soviet Union launched the first artificial Earth satellite into low Earth orbit. It was a small sphere with four long antennae. In Russian, Sputnik means “traveling companion.” On Earth, beeping sounds were played over the radio in celebration and as awareness of the Soviet Union’s accomplishment. This accomplishment caused surprise and fear in other nations as they attempted to understand the significance of this event. Sputnik 1 operated in orbit for three weeks before turning dormant. The satellite stayed in space for two months before burning up while reentering Earth’s atmosphere. Sputnik 1’s success was followed with additional launches of the Soviet Sputnik Program.

Camera:   DCS420A         Serial #: 420-2040Width:    1524Height:   1012Date:  11/24/97Time:   11:39:45DCS4XX ImageFW Ver:   081596          TIFF ImageLook:   Product----------------------Counter:    [88]ISO:        100 Aperture:   F2.8Shutter:    60  Lens (mm):  28  Exposure:   M   Program:    Po  Exp Comp:    0.0Meter area: MtrxFlash sync: NormDrive mode: S   Focus mode: S   Focus area: WideDistance:   3.4m

Camera: DCS420A Serial #: 420-2040Width: 1524Height: 1012Date: 11/24/97Time: 11:39:45DCS4XX ImageFW Ver: 081596 TIFF ImageLook: Product----------------------Counter: [88]ISO: 100 Aperture: F2.8Shutter: 60 Lens (mm): 28 Exposure: M Program: Po Exp Comp: 0.0Meter area: MtrxFlash sync: NormDrive mode: S Focus mode: S Focus area: WideDistance: 3.4m

Photo by: NASA

NASA

January 31, 1958: Explorer 1

Explorer 1 was the first satellite launched into space by the United States. The satellite was designed with a cosmic ray detector to measure radiation within Earth’s orbit. Explorer 1 stopped communicating with NASA on May 23, 1958 in what was known as its last transmission. After more than 58,000 orbits, the satellite reentered Earth’s atmosphere and burned up on March 31, 1970. Explorer 1 set the stage for more Explorer satellites to follow.

The three men responsible for the success of Explorer 1, America's first Earth satellite which was launched January 31, 1958. At left is Dr. William H. Pickering, former director of JPL, which built and operated the satellite. Dr. James A. van Allen, center, of the State University of Iowa, designed and built the instrument on Explorer that discovered the radiation belts which circle the Earth. At right is Dr. Wernher von Braun, leader of the Army's Redstone Arsenal team which built the first stage Redstone rocket that launched Explorer 1.

Explorer I Architects

The three men responsible for the success of Explorer 1, America's first Earth satellite which was launched January 31, 1958. At left is Dr. William H. Pickering, former director of JPL, which built and operated the satellite. Dr. James A. van Allen, center, of the State University of Iowa, designed and built the instrument on Explorer that discovered the radiation belts which circle the Earth. At right is Dr. Wernher von Braun, leader of the Army's Redstone Arsenal team which built the first stage Redstone rocket that launched Explorer 1.

Photo by: NASA/ JPL

NASA/ JPL

The three men responsible for the success of Explorer 1, America's first Earth satellite which was launched January 31, 1958. At left is Dr. William H. Pickering, former director of JPL, which built and operated the satellite. Dr. James A. van Allen, center, of the State University of Iowa, designed and built the instrument on Explorer that discovered the radiation belts which circle the Earth. At right is Dr. Wernher von Braun, leader of the Army's Redstone Arsenal team which built the first stage Redstone rocket that launched Explorer 1.

October 4, 1960: Courier 1B

Courier 1B was the world’s first active repeater communications satellite. It was successfully launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The satellite had the capability to receive, transmit, and store 68,000 words per minute. Courier 1B was active for 17 days and completed 228 orbits. This satellite successfully proved that “it could record messages from an Earth station and rebroadcast them.” This was the precursor of the modern communications satellites that currently orbit Earth.

July 10, 1962: Telestar 1

Telestar 1 was “the world’s first active communication satellite, enabling TV programs to be broadcast across the Atlantic.” It was this satellite in particular that broadcasted for the first-time live television images between the United States and Europe. Telestar 1 was active for 7 months. It proved to be a success when people on the other side of the world could see live images of New York City and the Golden Gate Bridge.

Developed by Bell Telephone Laboratories for AT&T, Telstar was the world's first active communications satellite and the world's first commercial payload in space. It demonstrated the feasibility of transmitting information via satellite, gained experience in satellite tracking and studied the effect of Van Allen radiation belts on satellite design. The satellite was spin-stabilized to maintain its desired orientation in space. Power to its onboard equipment was provided by a solar array, in conjunction with a battery back-up system.

Developed by Bell Telephone Laboratories for AT&T, Telstar was the world's first active communications satellite and the world's first commercial payload in space. It demonstrated the feasibility of transmitting information via satellite, gained experience in satellite tracking and studied the effect of Van Allen radiation belts on satellite design. The satellite was spin-stabilized to maintain its desired orientation in space. Power to its onboard equipment was provided by a solar array, in conjunction with a battery back-up system.

Photo by: NASA/Bell Labs

NASA/Bell Labs

Developed by Bell Telephone Laboratories for AT&T, Telstar was the world's first active communications satellite and the world's first commercial payload in space. It demonstrated the feasibility of transmitting information via satellite, gained experience in satellite tracking and studied the effect of Van Allen radiation belts on satellite design. The satellite was spin-stabilized to maintain its desired orientation in space. Power to its onboard equipment was provided by a solar array, in conjunction with a battery back-up system.

August 19, 1964: Syncom 3

Syncom 3 was the first geostationary satellite that provided live television coverage of the 1964 Olympic games in Tokyo, Japan. The satellite operated in high orbit. After proving its capability through numerous tests, use of the satellite was discontinued in April 1969.

Photo by: NASA

NASA

December 13, 1975: RCA Satcom

Satcom 1 was a communications satellite. It was “widely used by both cable and broadcast TV networks, allowing for the ground-breaking transmission of early cable television innovators.” It outshined its competitors as it had twice as much communications capacity, which allowed for lower transmission costs.

February 19, 1976: Marisat

The Marisat was the first maritime telecommunications satellite. “It was designed to provide dependable telecommunications for commercial shipping and the U.S. Navy.” The satellite was the first of its series. It was capable of transmitting various types of data to and from ships at sea through selected shore stations.

The first commercial mobile communications satellite, Marisat, in 1975, built by Hughes for Comsat and used by both U.S. Navy and merchant marine ships.

The first commercial mobile communications satellite, Marisat, in 1975, built by Hughes for Comsat and used by both U.S. Navy and merchant marine ships.

Photo by: NASA/Hughes Space and Communications Company

NASA/Hughes Space and Communications Company

The first commercial mobile communications satellite, Marisat, in 1975, built by Hughes for Comsat and used by both U.S. Navy and merchant marine ships.

Present day, satellites continue to launch around the world thanks to previous successors. Tonight, look up in the night sky as you may just see a satellite pass by!

Satellite Saviors: How Earth-orbiting Sensors Can Help Save the Planet

Making the planet safer with Earth-orbiting technology

Next Up

Quiz: Test Your Space Exploration Knowledge

Ahead of the historic May 27th NASA and SpaceX crewed space launch, test your space exploration knowledge!

NFL SUPER STADIUMS Follows the Epic Journey of Building SoFi Stadium

In partnership with the NFL, Discovery and Science Channel go behind the scenes and follow the remarkable journey of constructing SoFi Stadium in an all-new, two-hour special, NFL SUPER STADIUMS premiering Wednesday, September 9 at 8P on Science Channel and Saturday, September 12 at 11A on Discovery.

Out of This World! Inside Virgin Galactic's Spacecraft

Buckle up! On July 28, Virgin Galactic is showing the world what the inside of their SpaceShipTwo Unity spacecraft looks like via a livestream on their YouTube channel.

NASA and SpaceX are Going on a Date, and We're All Invited

Save the date--On May 27th, if everything goes as planned, a rocket will launch from Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Watch SPACE LAUNCH LIVE: AMERICA RETURNS TO SPACE on Discovery and Science Channel starting at 2P ET.

10 Facts About NASA’s SpaceX Demo-2 Splashdown

Here's everything you need to know about NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley's return home from the International Space Station on Sunday, August 2.

William Shatner Becomes Oldest Man to Travel to Space After Successful Blue Origin Space Flight

On the morning of October 13, William Shatner joined the crew of New Shepard for its second crewed flight, NS-18. Due to a few holds, the scheduled 10A liftoff was delayed by about 50 minutes from Blue Origin's Launch Site One in Texas. Despite the delays, liftoff and touchdown went off without a hitch, making Star Trek star William Shatner the oldest man to go to space.

Fly Me to the Moon and Mars: SpaceX’s Starship and Spaceports

Elon Musk’s SpaceX is developing a reusable transportation system for spaceflight to the Moon, Mars, and beyond our wildest space dreams.

Splashdown! NASA and SpaceX Crew-1 Return to Earth

On Sunday, May 2, at 2:56A ET, NASA astronauts Michael Hopkins, Victor Glover, Shannon Walker, and JAXA astronaut Soichi Noguchi returned home. From undocking to splashdown, here's everything you need to know. Catch up on NASA's SpaceX Crew-1 mission on SPACE LAUNCH LIVE: CREW-1 LIFTOFF, streaming on discovery+.

Expedition 64 to Launch on October 14

One NASA astronaut and two Roscosmos cosmonauts of Expedition 64 are scheduled to launch to the ISS on Wednesday, October 14 at 1:45AM ET for a six month stay. Let’s learn the details!

Expedition 63 to Return Home on October 21

After 196 days in space aboard the ISS, NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy, Roscosmos cosmonaut Anatoli Ivanishin, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Ivan Vagner are coming home! Let’s learn the details of their return to Earth.

Related To: