In October of 1945, a gifted science and science fiction writer proposed the extraordinary idea of using stationary satellites to beam television and other communications signals halfway around the world. Arthur C. Clarke (2001: A Spaces Odyssey, Rendezvous With Rama, etc.) reasoned that if a satellite were positioned high enough above the equator, its orbit could be matched to the rotation of the Earth. The satellite would then appear to remain fixed in one particular spot in the sky. Because a satellite's orbital speed caries with its distance from Earth, a "geostationary" orbit is only possible directly above the equator, in a narrow belt about 22.300 miles out. Although it tool the technology a while to catch up with Mr. Clarke's concept, today there are a number of satellites taking advantage of his original thinking. In recognition of his pioneering vision of satellite telecommunications, this band of outer space "real estate" is called the Clarke Orbit.
Mr. Clarke also reasoned that a single satellite located above the Earth could effectively replace thousands of local transmitting facilities at a mere function of their cost. He first raised the possibility of direct-to-home (DTH) satellite reception as the most efficient means of supplying television and radio programming. At first this idea was not taken very seriously in the scientific community, probably because it had been expressed by a writer who dabbled in the art of science fiction. But science fiction is often a springboard for new ideas and theories, some of which turn into science fact.
In 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik, the world's first artificial satellite. Although it only transmitted a simple beacon that could be tracked as the satellite orbited the Earth, its successful flight had implications that challenged the rest of the world to develop the advanced technology necessary for the exploration of space.
Several additional technological developments were necessary in order to make satellite communications possible. Solar panels composed of thousands of tiny photovoltaic cells enabled these remote relay stations to generate their own electricity from the Sun, providing the satellites with reliable operating power. The invention of first the transistor and then the integrated circuit allowed technicians to miniaturize all of the components so that a relatively small the components so that a relatively small and lightweight package could be launched into high orbit.
In 1962, the United States launched Telstar, the world's first satellite used for television programming. Because satellite launching techniques were still in their infancy, Telstar was not put into geostationary orbit. Its elliptical orbit had to be tracked by ground stations, and it was only overhead at any given location during a portion of each day. In 1965, the Early Bird satellite became operational as the world's first commercial geostationary satellite; it relayed telephone calls, telex, news and other television programming from one side of the other. It also could carry 240 telephone communications, or one television channel, at a time. Early Bird was the forerunner of a new series of satellites operated by the International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (INTELSAT).
First Canada, then the United States, and subsequently other countries constructed their own domestic geostationary satellite systems. Each new satellite had greater capabilities, expanding our ideas of the technologically possible. As of early 1995, there were more than 120 domestic and international telecommunication satellites in geostationary orbit over the Earth's equator.
