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Program archive
Early communications satellites
Early communications satellites is explored here through 14 archived missions, from Telstar 1 through ATS-6, with the program’s spacecraft, people, milestones, and source-backed history connected along the way.
- Missions
- 14
- People
- 0
- Vehicles
- 14
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Choose a path through the Early communications satellites archive.
Early communications satellites missions
Every archived Early communications satellites mission, in launch order.
Early communications satellites mission filtersNarrow missions by program, type, destination, crew, era, or status.Show filtersHide filters
Showing missions 1–12 of 14
Syncom 1Mission lost after apogee-motor firingUncrewed communications and technology satelliteNear-synchronous transfer trajectorySyncom 1 launched on February 14, 1963 as part of the Syncom program.
ATS-2Partial failure after launch-vehicle malfunctionUncrewed communications and technology satelliteUnintended elliptical Earth orbitATS-2 launched on April 6, 1967 as part of the Applications Technology Satellite program.
ATS-4Launch failure; reentered October 17, 1968Uncrewed communications and technology satelliteUnintended low Earth orbitATS-4 launched on August 10, 1968 as part of the Applications Technology Satellite program.
ATS-5Partial failure after incorrect spin stateUncrewed communications and technology satelliteGeosynchronous orbitATS-5 launched on August 12, 1969 as part of the Applications Technology Satellite program.
ATS-1Successful; formally deactivated December 1, 1978Uncrewed communications and technology satelliteGeosynchronous orbitATS-1 launched on December 7, 1966 as part of the Applications Technology Satellite program.
Relay 1Successful experimental missionUncrewed communications and technology satelliteElliptical medium Earth orbitRelay 1 launched on December 13, 1962 as part of the Relay program.
Syncom 2Successful experimental missionUncrewed communications and technology satelliteInclined geosynchronous orbitSyncom 2 launched on July 26, 1963 as part of the Syncom program.
Syncom 3Successful experimental and operational missionUncrewed communications and technology satelliteGeostationary orbit over the PacificSyncom 3 launched on August 19, 1964 as part of the Syncom program.
Telstar 1Successful; communications ended in February 1963Uncrewed communications and technology satelliteElliptical medium Earth orbitTelstar 1 launched on July 10, 1962 as part of the Telstar program.
ATS-3Successful; deactivated December 1, 1978Uncrewed communications and technology satelliteGeosynchronous orbitATS-3 launched on November 5, 1967 as part of the Applications Technology Satellite program.
ATS-6Successful; operations ended in 1979Uncrewed communications and technology satelliteGeostationary orbit, restationed from 94° west to 35° eastATS-6 launched on May 30, 1974 as part of the Applications Technology Satellite program.
Intelsat ISuccessful commercial serviceUncrewed communications and technology satelliteGeostationary orbit over the AtlanticIntelsat I launched on April 6, 1965 as part of the Intelsat program.