Satellite communication history began with the visionary ideas of trailblazers, who foresaw the possibilities of using satellite for global communication network. As years proceeds, these ideas or fantasy was transformed into fruition.
But it didn’t just happen; satellite communication went through several developmental stages with notable breakthroughs recorded over the decades which has left a lasting footprint on the digital age.
Let me take you back to the mid-20th century when the first artificial satellite was launched. It success transitioned humanity into a new era of civilization which enabled real-time communication and global broadcast. It also laid the groundwork for the interconnected world we enjoy today.
As we delve into satellite communication history, we are interested in exploring the key moments that played significant roles in its development and see how they have contributed to its enduring legacy that has lasted to our present day.
Early Foundations
The idea for satellite communication actually began as a fantasy. It all started in 1945 when a British science fiction writer and futurist named Arthur C. Clarke envisioned a network of geostationary satellites orbiting planet Earth to provide global communication.
Arthur C. Clarke
He wrote an article titled “Extra-Terrestrial Relays: Can Rocket Stations Give Worldwide Radio Coverage?.” This got published in a British magazine called Wireless World. In his article, he provided detailed about how satellites positioned in geostationary orbit can enhance global communication.
Among the details described by Clarke include what he called a geostationary orbit positioned directly above the earth equator at an altitude of approximately 35,786 kilometers (22,236 miles) where a satellite’s orbital period matches the Earth rotation.
Even though Clark’s proposal for a geostationary satellite was theoretical at that time, it inspired scientists, engineers and policy makers to think big and take actions. This remains one of the most important contributions in satellite communication history.
The Launch of Sputnik 1
On Cotober 4, 1957, present day Russia then Soviet Union made the first attempt on satellite communication history to launch the world’s first artificial satellite to orbit. The launch was indeed successful, marking the beginning of space exploration.
Sputnik 1
The satellite launched was called Sputnik 1. It looked spherical in shape and had four external radio antennas to allow it broadcast radio pulses. As regarding the size, Sputnik 1 diameter was about 58 centimetres (23 inches) and weighed approximately 83.6 kilograms (184 pounds).
Its primary purpose was to demonstrate the possibility of launching a satellite into orbit and also conducts simple scientific experiment to enable them study, better understand the upper atmosphere and also test the principles of satellite communication to know if it even exist at all.
And yes, the launch actually proved a point with the valuable data it provided. Sputnik 1 completed an orbit around the Earth approximately every 96 minutes; it also transmitted series of beeping radio signals which were detected by radio operators across the world. This was all that was required to set the stage for future development.
The Launch of the First Communication Satellites
Early 1960 marked a pivotal moment in satellite communication history; a new satellite for communication was launched by the United States on August 12, 1960. It was called Echo 1 and looked like a large reflective balloon made of Mylar polyester.
Echo 1
Echo 1 had a diameter of about 30 meters (100 feet) and was more of passive than active. It couldn’t generate or amplify signals because it was designed to only reflect radio signals sent to it back to the Ground stations on Earth.
Ground station
Echo 1 launch demonstrated the possibility of using satellites to expand the range of radio, television, telephone and telegraph communication signals beyond the line of sight, proving that it could be used to better long-distance communication.
On July 10, 1962, another satellite called Telstar 1 was launched in the United States as a joint project by NASA and AT&T. It orbited the Earth in a highly elliptical orbit, this meant that it moved around the earth in an oval-shaped orbit and as a result it could only be visible to ground stations for about 20 minutes during each orbit.
Despite this challenge, the Telstar 1 still performed very well. It was no doubt an improvement to her predecessor, it went as far as achieving remarkable results that laid some footprints in history.
The Telstar 1 was in fact the first active communication satellite, it had better design that enabled it to relay television, telephone, telegraph, and fax signals. It was also equipped with transponders that allowed it to receive, amplify and retransmit signals.
With the Telstar 1 having these capabilities, it was able to transmit the first live TV broadcast across the Atlantic Ocean on July 23, 1962. The United States and Europe where successfully connected to enable them share live content instantaneously.
Next, was the establishment of real-time communication for telephone and data streaming between North America and Europe. It also turned out great and convinced everyone beyond reasonable doubt that satellite communication was effective in transmitting data over long distances.
Development of Geostationary Satellites
The success of Telstar 1 marked the beginning of a new era in satellite communication history. We started to see more advanced technological inventions spring up particularly those in the geostationary orbit, to allow for non-stop coverage of specific locations.
Syncom 2
In 1963, the first geostationary satellite called Syncom 2 was launched by NASA to allow for round the clock communication with a particular area at real-time. This was another major breakthrough in satellite communication history.
Syncom 2 improved voice, teletype, and fax communication to the extent that the United States and Nigeria in Africa could easily communicate. This was demonstrated during transmission of the first live two-way call between President John F. Kennedy and Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa of Nigeria at that time.
In 1965, another history was made with the launch of Early Bird (Intelsat I). It was credited as the first commercial communication satellite because it provided stable transatlantic communication for telephones, TVs and data transmission. This eventually led to the creation of a global satellite network with an industry later coming out of it.
Satellite Networks Expansion
All through the 1970s and 1980s, Intelsat grew to become the MVP in global communication. It went as far as expanding its satellite network across continents and facilitated international broadcasting.
The Soviet Union also establishment the Intersputnik in 1971 which later became a competitor to the Intelsat. However, its primary purpose was to serve as a global satellite communication organization and offer services to member nations especially those in the Eastern Bloc.
On the domestic scene, a new record was set in satellite communication history with Canada launching a domestic satellite system called Anik A1 in 1972 to provide TV broadcast to remote and northern communities across the country. This in turn inspired more countries to develop and launch theirs.
The 1980s also witness the emergence of DBS (Direct broadcasting satellites) to allow viewers receive TV signals directly from satellites, eliminating the need for ground-based transmitters. This increased the range channels and viewership especially in underserved communities.
Satellite Technological Advancements
As we moved into the 1990s, technological advancements took a different turn which led to improved capacity and efficiency of satellite systems. The transition from analog to digital satellite communication also began, creating room for more channels, improved picture quality and increased internet access.
By the time we entered the year 2000s; High-Throughput satellites (HTS) were introduced to provide higher data transmission which was not existent in traditional satellites at that time. HTS were designed in such a way that they helped increase the bandwidth and had signals focused on smaller locations. HTS has also been helpful in bridging the digital divide in underserved communities.
Thereafter, Global Navigation Satellite Systems were established with the United States GPS, Europe’s Galileo and Russian GLONASS occupying that space, providing explicit timing and location services.
These became very essential for navigation, mapping, and timing applications. New technologies like autonomous vehicles have also benefitted from Global Navigation Satellite Systems as well.
Modern Satellite Communication (2010s-Present)
The rise of low earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellations like Starlink of SpaceX transformed global internet access especially in remote areas that were thought as impossible. With a punch of small satellites deployed to Low Earth Orbit, Starlink aim to provide global broadband internet connectivity.
SpaceX launching a satellite to low orbit
5G technology also got integrated with satellites to provide faster internet speeds and improve connectivity especially in rural areas where terrestrial networks couldn’t reach. The 5G-satellite integration would hopefully pave the way for the next wave of technological innovation like Internet of Things (IoT).
In 2016, China launched the Micius satellite to demonstrate the potentials of quantum satellite communication which aims to offer highly secure communication channels and privacy, making it virtually impossible to intercept or decode messages. As of the time of writing this, it is still in her early stage and has not yet been deployed to global satellite communication network.
