Project SCORE

This paper is designed to provide a review and summary of the over-all program of development, construction and operation by the U. S. Army Signal Research and Development Laboratory of the first satellite communication system placed in orbit on December 18, 1958. This effort was part of Project SCORE (Signal Communication by Orbiting Relay Experiment) directed by ARPA. Basically, Project SCORE consisted of designing, constructing, and conducting an actual flight experiment of a delayed repeater type satellite package using an actual stripped down Atlas missile as the satellite container. The major points to be covered are summarized in the following paragraphs. A brief historical résumé of the project will cover the preliminary discussions regarding the feasibility of orbiting an Atlas ICBM; the vehicle and weight limitation affecting preliminary system design; mechanical and electrical test problems and ground station installation and on-site training. The system description will cover orbit data; ground station site location and control; airborne equipment components such as antennas, temperature control and communication electronics; general considerations of system design and design problems; ground station equipment including recording and test equipment and associated ground communication equipment.