Communications Satellites - National Air and Space Museum Communications satellites are one such technology, and they play a major role in our daily lives Prior to the 1960s, long-distance communication via radio, telephone, and television networks was a challenge Local areas often had very good coverage, and broad networks might blanket a nation, but the whole world wasn't yet covered
Venus - National Air and Space Museum Earth's natural satellite is the Moon, but many objects in our Solar System have multiple natural satellites Humans have also created artificial satellites—human-made machines and spacecraft in orbit around our Earth or other objects in our galaxy
Telstar - National Air and Space Museum Telstar was one of the most significant communications satellites of the early space age It raised an important policy question: Should communications satellites be operated and controlled by private corporations or under government auspices? The United States chose government direction and created two new institutions, COMSAT and INTELSAT, to develop satellite communcations, an arrangement
Military Reconnaissance - National Air and Space Museum Military reconnaissance is an operation to obtain information relating to the activities, resources, or military forces of a foreign nation or armed group It uses balloons, aviation, and space technology and has played an important role in our history
The Space Race - National Air and Space Museum The Space Race grew out of a conflict known as the Cold War While not a war in the traditional sense, the two countries were in a state of military and political tension that lasted nearly 50 years and were involved in proxy wars such as the war in Vietnam
ANIK, Worlds First Synchronous Domestic Communications Satellite As prominent symbols of technical advance, communications satellites often were celebrated in poster art The works frequently used a similar formula, combining cultural symbols, images of the satellite, and an overhead view of the Earth to reinforce pictorially the importance of space technologies in national or international life
Applications Satellites - National Air and Space Museum Today, hundreds of civilian and military applications satellites ring the Earth, often operating side-by-side in orbit They provide similar services—communications, photography, remote sensing, weather analysis, and navigation—reaching different but occasionally overlapping communities of users These satellites have become an integral part of contemporary life We take for granted daily