Abstract :
The first intercontinental satellite communication link, which involved the NASA Echo I balloon, a transmitting station on the Island of Trinidad, and a receiving station at Floyd, NY, is discussed. Rome Air Development Center (RADC) experimental stations were set up using a great deal of ingenuity and makeshift equipment and on a very small budget. Much of the equipment was salvaged from unrelated systems, while some was hand-built for this project. The implementation of the system, the testing of the system using moon bounce, the first orbital launch of the Echo I balloon, and the early difficulties encountered in the project are reviewed.<>
Keywords :
balloons; history; satellite relay systems; Floyd; Island of Trinidad; NASA Echo I balloon; NY; Rome; intercontinental satellite communication link; moon bounce; orbital launch; receiving station; testing; transmitting station; Antenna feeds; Artificial satellites; Missiles; NASA; Radar antennas; Radar tracking; Relays; Satellite broadcasting; Spaceborne radar; Testing;
