Telstar
Model of a Telstar satellite, on display at Conservatoire national des arts et métiers | |
| Manufacturer | Hughes, EADS Astrium, Space Systems/Loral, Airbus Defence and Space |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | United States |
| Operator | AT&T, Telesat |
| Applications | Communications |
| Specifications | |
| Regime | Medium Earth / Geostationary |
| Production | |
| Status | In service |
| Launched | 21 |
Telstar refers to a series of communications satellites. The first two, Telstar 1 and Telstar 2, were experimental and nearly identical. Telstar 1 launched atop of a Thor-Delta rocket on July 10, 1962, successfully relayed the first television pictures, telephone calls, and telegraph images through space. It also provided the first live transatlantic television feed. Telstar 2 was launched May 7, 1963. Telstar 1 and 2—though no longer functional—still orbit the Earth.