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{{Infobox spaceflight
{{Infobox spaceflight
| name = Intelsat I F1
| name = Intelsat I F1
| image =
| image = INTELSAT I (Early Bird).jpg
| image_caption =
| image_caption = INTELSAT I ''Early Bird''
| mission_type = Communications
| mission_type = Communications
| operator = [[Communications Satellite Corporation]] ([[COMSAT]])
| operator = [[Communications Satellite Corporation]] ([[COMSAT]])
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| COSPAR_ID = 1965-028A
| COSPAR_ID = 1965-028A
| SATCAT = 01317
| SATCAT = 01317
| mission_duration =
| mission_duration = 18 months (planned)<br />4 years and 4 months
| entered_service =
| entered_service = June 28, 1965
| spacecraft_bus = Alcatel 4KX13CXR
| spacecraft_bus = HS-303
| manufacturer = [[Hughes Aircraft Company|Hughes Aircraft]]
| manufacturer = [[Hughes Aircraft Company|Hughes Aircraft]]
| dry_mass = <!-- {{convert| | | |abbr=on}} -->
| dry_mass = <!-- {{convert| | | |abbr=on}} -->
| launch_mass = 149 kg
| launch_mass = 149 kg
| power = 4.4 kilowatts
| power = 40 watts
| launch_date =
| launch_date = April 6, 1965, 23:47:50 UTC
| launch_rocket = [[Delta D]]
| launch_rocket = [[Delta D]]
| launch_site = [[Cape Canaveral Air Force Station|Cape Canaveral]], [[Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Space Launch Complex 17|LC-17A]]
| launch_site = [[Cape Canaveral Air Force Station|Cape Canaveral]], [[Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Space Launch Complex 17|LC-17A]]
| launch_contractor = [[Douglas Aircraft Company]]
| launch_contractor = [[Douglas Aircraft Company]]
| disposal_type =
| disposal_type =
| deactivated =
| deactivated = August 1969
| orbit_epoch =
| orbit_epoch =
| orbit_reference = [[Geocentric orbit|Geocentric]]
| orbit_reference = [[Geocentric orbit|Geocentric]]
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| orbit_apoapsis = {{convert|35855.1|km}}
| orbit_apoapsis = {{convert|35855.1|km}}
| orbit_inclination = 3.1270°
| orbit_inclination = 3.1270°
| orbit_period = Live
| orbit_period = 1437 minutes
| orbit_rev_number = 22121
| orbit_rev_number = 8068
| apsis = gee
| apsis = gee
| trans_band = C-band
| trans_band =
| trans_frequency =
| trans_frequency =
| trans_bandwidth = 300 GHz
| trans_bandwidth =
| trans_capacity =
| trans_capacity =
| trans_coverage = [[North America]]
| trans_coverage =
| trans_TWTA =
| trans_TWTA =
| trans_EIRP =
| trans_EIRP =
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}}
}}


'''Intelsat I''' (nicknamed '''Early Bird''' for the [[proverb]] "The early bird catches the worm") was the first commercial [[communications satellite]] to be placed in [[geosynchronous orbit]], on April 6, 1965.<ref name="astronautica">{{cite encyclopedia |url=http://www.astronautix.com/i/intelsat1.html |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia Astronautica |entry=Intesat I |access-date=5 April 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.intelsat.com/about-us/our-history/1960-2/ |title=About Us |website=Intelsat |access-date=13 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213231337/http://www.intelsat.com/about-us/our-history/1960-2/|archive-date=13 December 2013}}</ref> It was built by the Space and Communications Group of [[Hughes Aircraft Company]] (later Hughes Space and Communications Company, and now [[Boeing Satellite Development Center|Boeing Satellite Systems]]) for [[COMSAT]], which activated it on June 28, 1965. It was based on the [[Syncom]] series of satellites that Hughes had previously built for [[NASA]] to demonstrate that communications via synchronous-orbit satellite were feasible. Its booster was a [[Delta (rocket family)|Thrust Augmented Delta (Delta D)]]. After a series of maneuvers, it reached its geosynchronous orbital position over the Atlantic Ocean at 28° West longitude, where it was put into service.<ref>http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/intelsat-1.htm</ref>
'''Intelsat I''' (nicknamed '''Early Bird''' for the [[proverb]] "The early bird catches the worm") was the first commercial [[communications satellite]] to be placed in [[geosynchronous orbit]], on April 6, 1965.<ref name="astronautica">{{cite web|url=http://www.astronautix.com/craft/intlsat1.htm|title=Encyclopedia Astronautica - Intesat I|access-date=5 April 2010|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100116224556/http://astronautix.com/craft/intlsat1.htm|archive-date=16 January 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.intelsat.com/about-us/our-history/1960-2/ |title=Intelsat: History|access-date=13 December 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213231337/http://www.intelsat.com/about-us/our-history/1960-2/|archive-date=13 December 2013}}</ref> It was built by the Space and Communications Group of [[Hughes Aircraft Company]] (later Hughes Space and Communications Company, and now [[Boeing Satellite Development Center|Boeing Satellite Systems]]) for [[COMSAT]], which activated it on June 28, 1965. It was based on the [[Syncom]] series of satellites that Hughes had previously built for [[NASA]] to demonstrate that communications via synchronous-orbit satellite were feasible. Its booster was a [[Delta (rocket family)|Thrust Augmented Delta (Delta D)]]. After a series of maneuvers, it reached its geosynchronous orbital position over the Atlantic Ocean at 28° West longitude, where it was put into service.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/intelsat-1.htm|title = Intelsat-1}}</ref>


It helped provide the first live TV coverage of a spacecraft splashdown, that of [[Gemini 6]] in December 1965. Originally slated to operate for 18 months, Early Bird was in active service for 4 years and 4 months, being deactivated in January 1969, although it was briefly activated in June of that year to serve the ''[[Apollo 11]]'' flight when the Atlantic [[Intelsat]] satellite failed. It was deactivated again in August 1969 and has been inactive since that time (except for a brief reactivation in 1990 to commemorate its 25th launch anniversary), although it remains in orbit.
It helped provide the first live TV coverage of a spacecraft splashdown, that of [[Gemini 6]] in December 1965. Originally slated to operate for 18 months, Early Bird was in active service for 4 years and 4 months, being deactivated in January 1969, although it was briefly activated in June of that year to serve the ''[[Apollo 11]]'' flight when the Atlantic [[Intelsat]] satellite failed. It was deactivated again in August 1969 and has been inactive since that time (except for a brief reactivation in 1990 to commemorate its 25th launch anniversary),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://appel.nasa.gov/2010/02/25/ao_1-7_sf_history-html|title = This Week in NASA History — Intelsat I: The 'Early Bird' of Satellites}}</ref> although it remains in orbit.


The Early Bird satellite was the first to provide direct and nearly instantaneous contact between Europe and North America, handling [[television]], [[telephone]], and [[Fax|telefacsimile]] transmissions. It was fairly small, measuring nearly {{cvt|76 x 61|cm|feet|1}} and weighing {{cvt|34.5|kg}}.
The Early Bird satellite was the first to provide direct and nearly instantaneous contact between Europe and North America, handling [[television]], [[telephone]], and [[Fax|telefacsimile]] transmissions. It was fairly small, measuring nearly {{cvt|76 x 61|cm|feet|1}} and weighing {{cvt|34.5|kg}}.
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==Model==
==Model==
A full-scale model, or a flight test model, hangs in the main lobby of the Intelsat headquarters building, [[Washington, D.C.]]
A full-scale model, or a flight test model, hung in the main lobby of the Intelsat headquarters building, [[Washington, D.C.]] before moving to McLean, VA in 2014. It was donated to the [[National Air and Space Museum]] in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.intelsat.com/newsroom/intelsat-donates-early-bird-intelsat-1-satellite-to-the-smithsonian/|title = Intelsat Donates 'Early Bird' Intelsat 1 Satellite to the Smithsonian|date = 23 March 2022}}</ref>


==See also==
== See also ==
{{Portal|Spaceflight}}
{{Portal|Spaceflight}}
* [[Early Bird (André Brasseur song)|"Early Bird"]], 1965 song named after Intelsat I
* [[List of communications satellite firsts]]
* [[List of communications satellite firsts]]
* [[Syncom]], the first geosynchronous and geostationary satellites
* [[Syncom]], the first geosynchronous and geostationary satellites

Latest revision as of 02:27, 2 April 2024

"Early Bird Satellite" redirects here. For the song, see André Brasseur.
Intelsat I F1
INTELSAT I Early Bird
Mission typeCommunications
OperatorCommunications Satellite Corporation (COMSAT)
COSPAR ID1965-028A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.01317
Mission duration18 months (planned)
4 years and 4 months
Spacecraft properties
BusHS-303
ManufacturerHughes Aircraft
Launch mass149 kg
Power40 watts
Start of mission
Launch dateApril 6, 1965, 23:47:50 UTC
RocketDelta D
Launch siteCape Canaveral, LC-17A
ContractorDouglas Aircraft Company
Entered serviceJune 28, 1965
End of mission
DeactivatedAugust 1969
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeGSO
Perigee altitude35,767.8 kilometres (22,225.1 mi)
Apogee altitude35,855.1 kilometres (22,279.3 mi)
Inclination3.1270°
Period1437 minutes
Revolution no.8068

Intelsat I (nicknamed Early Bird for the proverb "The early bird catches the worm") was the first commercial communications satellite to be placed in geosynchronous orbit, on April 6, 1965.[1][2] It was built by the Space and Communications Group of Hughes Aircraft Company (later Hughes Space and Communications Company, and now Boeing Satellite Systems) for COMSAT, which activated it on June 28, 1965. It was based on the Syncom series of satellites that Hughes had previously built for NASA to demonstrate that communications via synchronous-orbit satellite were feasible. Its booster was a Thrust Augmented Delta (Delta D). After a series of maneuvers, it reached its geosynchronous orbital position over the Atlantic Ocean at 28° West longitude, where it was put into service.[3]

It helped provide the first live TV coverage of a spacecraft splashdown, that of Gemini 6 in December 1965. Originally slated to operate for 18 months, Early Bird was in active service for 4 years and 4 months, being deactivated in January 1969, although it was briefly activated in June of that year to serve the Apollo 11 flight when the Atlantic Intelsat satellite failed. It was deactivated again in August 1969 and has been inactive since that time (except for a brief reactivation in 1990 to commemorate its 25th launch anniversary),[4] although it remains in orbit.

The Early Bird satellite was the first to provide direct and nearly instantaneous contact between Europe and North America, handling television, telephone, and telefacsimile transmissions. It was fairly small, measuring nearly 76 cm × 61 cm (2.5 ft × 2.0 ft) and weighing 34.5 kg (76 lb).

Early Bird was one of the satellites used in the then record-breaking broadcast of Our World.

Model

[edit]

A full-scale model, or a flight test model, hung in the main lobby of the Intelsat headquarters building, Washington, D.C. before moving to McLean, VA in 2014. It was donated to the National Air and Space Museum in 2022.[5]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Encyclopedia Astronautica - Intesat I". Archived from the original on 16 January 2010. Retrieved 5 April 2010.
  2. ^ "Intelsat: History". Archived from the original on 13 December 2013. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
  3. ^ "Intelsat-1".
  4. ^ "This Week in NASA History — Intelsat I: The 'Early Bird' of Satellites".
  5. ^ "Intelsat Donates 'Early Bird' Intelsat 1 Satellite to the Smithsonian". 23 March 2022.
[edit]
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