Figure 1: Sputnik 1
Source: National Geographic’s website
Figure 2: Explorer 1 model held by JPL Director
William Pickering, scientist James Van Allen, and
rocket pioneer Wernher von Braun
Source: NASA JPL’s website
rapidly emerging with the development of wireless
technology.
The explor ation of sp ac e s atelli te
communication systems has been taking place for
decades.
According to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab, the
man-made satellite race began when the Soviet
Union launched their first satellite, named Sputnik
1, on October 4, 1957 in a low-earth-orbit (LEO).
Sputnik 1 is shown in Figure 1. The United States
of America followed suit by launching their first
satellite, Explorer 1 in a LEO on January 31,
1958. The satellite, Explorer 1, which is shown in
Figure 2 carried a small charge for the purposes
of scientific research which ultimately led to the
discovery of magnetic radiation belts around the
Earth [2].
Experimentation of satellites that serve as a
medium for communication was also active in the
’60s and ’70s. It was pioneered by the SCORE
satellite (signal communication by orbital relay)
which was built by the US Army Signal Corp on
December 18, 1958 and it operated for 35 days
[3]. It also broadcast a Christmas message from
President Eisenhower [4]. The chronology of
important discoveries in satellite communication
systems is as follows:
1960: passive communication satellite were
launched into space by the United States
(Echo I and II).
1962: An active satellite communication Telstar I
was first launched into middle-earth-orbit
(MEO) by a non-Government agency.
1963: The first satellite launched into
g e o s t a t i o n a r y - e a r t h - o r b i t (G EO)
was named Syncom 1. Though the
communication between the satellite
and the Earth ground station was initially
successful, it failed when attempting to
approach a synchronous orbit.
1964: Syncom 3 was successfully launched and
achieved GEO.
1964: International Telecommunication Satellite
Organisation (INTELSAT) was established.
1965: The first communication satellite was
successfully launched into a GEO for
commercial use; it was assigned the name
Early Bird and later renamed INTELSAT 1.
This race for satellite launching has enhanced
satellite technology whereby many experiments
have been carried out. The elements researched
include sufficiency of the power level and lifespan
of the satellite in order for it to operate effectively
in space. This is because unlike natural satellites,
artificial satellites rely on self-generated power.
Satellites need to maintain a certain position,
better known as the designated orbit orientation.
In addition, satellite systems require robust
technology that will not be affected by any
radiation or meteorite collisions. Furthermore, the
77