TELSTAR 1

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TELSTAR 1 is classified as:

Space & Earth Science

NORAD ID: 340

Int'l Code: 1962-029A

Perigee: 956.0 km

Apogee: 5,643.3 km

Inclination: 44.8 °

Period: 157.7 minutes

Semi major axis: 9670 km

RCS: 0.4943 m² (medium)

Launch date: July 10, 1962
Source: United States (US)
Launch site: AIR FORCE EASTERN TEST RANGE (AFETR)

TELSTAR 1 was launched on top of a Thor-Delta rocket on July 10, 1962. It successfully relayed through space the first television pictures, telephone calls, fax images and provided the first live transatlantic television feed. Telstar 2 was launched May 7, 1963. Telstar 1 operated normally from launch until November 1962, when the command channel began to behave erratically. The satellite was turned on continuously to circumvent this problem. On November 23, 1962, the command channel ceased to respond. On December 20, the satellite was successfully reactivated, and intermittent data were obtained until February 21, 1963, when the transmitter failed.

1 00340U 62029A   25199.52935891 -.00000106  00000-0 -61970-3 0  9999
2 00340  44.7936 220.8186 2423468 199.1068 339.0052  9.12890238101974

Source of the keplerian elements: AFSPC