Word: orbiter
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Dates: during 1960-1969
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Syncom I, the Hughes-built oldest brother of Early Bird, reached its orbit in 1963, but an exploding tank of high-pressure nitrogen kept it from succeeding electronically. Syncom II and III, used by the Department of Defense, were successful, but their performance has been kept partially secret. Early Bird, the fourth of the series, was built and launched for Comsat, the private company that was created by Congress to set up a commercial communication-satellite system. In the Syncom family, Early Bird was the big, public success...
Left Turns. Early Bird is a miracle of delicate electronics and advanced space-craftsmanship. The first problem was how to get it into an equatorial orbit from Cape Kennedy. If the cape were on the equator, Early Bird's rocket would have been asked only to carry it to the desired height and push it up to the proper speed-about 7,000 m.p.h. But the cape is 28° north of the equator, so Early Bird had to make a more complicated maneuver, turning sideways when it reached orbiting height. This left turn in space was accomplished nimbly...
...present the U.S. may be the only nation that has the technical resources to set up an effective world-communications system, but the Russians are not far behind. On April 23 they launched their first attempt, which has apparently gone into a twelve-hour orbit that will keep it over the Soviet land mass for a considerable time during each revolution. Two or three satellites would pro vide the U.S.S.R. with communications day and night. This may be all that the Russians are planning, but a powerful satellite sending strong, clear radio propaganda mixed with entertainment to the transistor radios...
...Jamming of programs may be tried, just as the Soviets now jam Voice of America broadcasts Another trick that has been suggested is to learn the frequency and code of a satellite's station-keeping system and send it commands that will make it shove itself out of orbit...
Even if such hostilities never materialize, there will be economic struggles to control the satellites, which are the first space ventures with a big money-making potential. As more and more countries get into the act, so many satellites may be sent into orbit that they could overcrowd the airwaves, making communication difficult or impossible...