Syncom

Syncom was a program of active geosynchronous communication satellites which was started by NASA in 1961. The programme name is an abbreviation of "synchronous communication satellite". All of the satellites were manufactured by Hughes Space and Communications.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Syncom IV series were considerably larger and heavier than the earlier satellites and were leased to the United States military under the LEASAT programme.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Common features

The three early Syncom satellites were experimental spacecraft built by Hughes Aircraft Company's facility in Culver City, California. All three satellites were cylindrical in shape, with a diameter of about 71 cm and a height of about 39 cm. Pre-launch fuelled masses were 68 kg, whilst orbital masses were 39 kg with a 25 kg payload. They were capable of emitted signals on two transponder at just 2 W. Thus, Syncom satellites were only capable of carrying a single two-way telephone conversation, or 16 teletype connections.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Syncom 1

Syncom 1 was to be the first geosynchronous communications satellite. It was launched on February 14 1963 with the Delta B #16 launch vehicle from Cape Canaveral, but was lost on the way to geosynchronous orbit due to an electronics failure. Seconds after the apogee kick motor for circularizing the orbit was fired, the spacecraft fell silent. Later telescopic observations verified the satellite was in an orbit with a period of almost 24 hours at a 33° inclination.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Syncom 2

This was the first geosynchronous communication satellite. Its orbit was inclined rather than geostationary. The satellite was launched by NASA on July 26 1963 with the Delta B #20 launch vehicle from Cape Canaveral. The satellite successfully kept station at the altitude calculated by Herman Potočnik Noordung in the 1920s.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

For a time, a ship, the USNS Kingsport, acted as a control station and uplink station for this satellite.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Syncom 3

This satellite was the first geostationary communication satellite, launched on August 19 1964 with the Delta D #25 launch vehicle from Cape Canaveral. The satellite, in orbit near the International Date Line, was used to telecast the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo to the United States. It was the first television programme to cross the Pacific ocean.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Communication satellites: REDIRECT Communications satellite...

NASA: The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), which was established in 1958, is the agency responsible for the public space program of the United States of America. It is also responsible for long-term civilian and military aerospace research....

1961: 1961 was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar)....