Telstar connects the world: The Launch of the Satellite Age
Post WWII cold war international politics polarized countries, and generated fear, misunderstanding, and distrust. In 1957, the Russians were the first to launch a manmade object into space, the Sputnik satellite, prompting what became known as the space race. In contrast to the competitive political standoff between the era's world powers, Russia and the United States, Telstar brought scientists, engineers, and businesses, from across the globe, together to work on one of man's greatest technological achievements. The launch of the Telstar satellite, and worldwide satellite TV broadcasts and communications, began the shift from a local or national focus to a global community, making the world smaller and more united.
The Russians appeared to be beating the United States in space exploration, prompting concerns of their ability to launch missiles at the United States. Besides the launch of the Russian Sputnik, they were the first to send a man into space. The successful launch of Telstar in July, 1962, placed the United States at the forefront of the space race, followed with the first man to walk on the moon in 1969.
As the world's first global communications satellite, Telstar launched the satellite age, sending the first global real-time television transmission, from Andover Earth Station, Maine, to Pleumeur-Bodou Telecom Center, France. Telstar also transported telephone and fax signals, and began telecommunications as we know it today. The satellite allowed instantaneous communication, and set the path for cell phones, worldwide internet, and satellite TV technologies that we now take for granted, but were previously science fiction.
Telstar marks a turning point in history, and even inspired an international musical hit. Telstar was an international collaboration between U.S., British and French broadcasting agencies. Then U.S. President John F. Kennedy stated, "This satellite must be high enough to carry messages from both sides of the world, which is, of course, an essential requirement for peace." Live images from around the world, and worldwide communications, transformed the cold war into a global community that becomes smaller with each technological advance since.
(http://lightyears.blogs.cnn.com/2012/07/13/50th-anniversary-of-satellite-celebrated/, http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/k-4/stories/what-is-a-satellite-k4.html, http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/07/50th-anniversary-telstar-1/, http://www.dw.de/happy-50th-birthday-transatlantic-tv/a-16090221)
The Russians appeared to be beating the United States in space exploration, prompting concerns of their ability to launch missiles at the United States. Besides the launch of the Russian Sputnik, they were the first to send a man into space. The successful launch of Telstar in July, 1962, placed the United States at the forefront of the space race, followed with the first man to walk on the moon in 1969.
As the world's first global communications satellite, Telstar launched the satellite age, sending the first global real-time television transmission, from Andover Earth Station, Maine, to Pleumeur-Bodou Telecom Center, France. Telstar also transported telephone and fax signals, and began telecommunications as we know it today. The satellite allowed instantaneous communication, and set the path for cell phones, worldwide internet, and satellite TV technologies that we now take for granted, but were previously science fiction.
Telstar marks a turning point in history, and even inspired an international musical hit. Telstar was an international collaboration between U.S., British and French broadcasting agencies. Then U.S. President John F. Kennedy stated, "This satellite must be high enough to carry messages from both sides of the world, which is, of course, an essential requirement for peace." Live images from around the world, and worldwide communications, transformed the cold war into a global community that becomes smaller with each technological advance since.
(http://lightyears.blogs.cnn.com/2012/07/13/50th-anniversary-of-satellite-celebrated/, http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/k-4/stories/what-is-a-satellite-k4.html, http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/07/50th-anniversary-telstar-1/, http://www.dw.de/happy-50th-birthday-transatlantic-tv/a-16090221)