Communications Satellites

A pioneering experiment in 1964 demonstrated the feasibility of using passive communications satellites to relay signals between distant locations, marking a significant milestone in global telecommunications. The study, conducted collaboratively by the U.S., USSR, and the University of Manchester's Jodrell Bank Observatory, involved transmitting signals from Jodrell Bank to Zimenki, Russia, via the Echo 2 satellite. Despite limitations such as the satellite's programmed altitude precluding simultaneous visibility between the U.S. and USSR, the experiment successfully established long-distance communication links, paving the way for future advancements in satellite-based telecommunications.

Behn, R. C. (2024). Communications Satellites. Handbook of Soviet Space-Science Research, 373–392. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781032674247-19