Current and future communication satellite technology
- Paper ID
IAF-75-17
- author
- company
Lincoln Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- country
U.S.A.
- year
1975
- abstract
It is difficult for most of us to realize that less than 20 years ago we were struggling to launch a grapefruit-size satellite into low-earth orbit. Since that time, we have become accustomed to many space spectaculars. The later manned launches and recoveries were even pre-empted from full television coverage by ordinary television programming. Despite the rapid acceptance of the conquest and use of space, very few truly recognize the revolutionary effects which space capability has had on our lives and the way we do business. This is particularly true in the field of communications. And these changes will be followed by even more dramatic uses of space communications. I would like to discuss briefly some of the technical background of this rapidly developing field.