July 10 <x-apple-data-detectors://0> is the 63rd anniversary of the Telstar launch in 1962. This was among the very first sophisticated communication satellites and marked the beginning of practical transatlantic television transmission.
Telstar was very advanced for its time. It was placed in an irregular orbit about 3,500 miles above the earth and relied upon multiple ground antennas. The device comprised around 1,000 transistors (a large number in the day). Its central component was a traveling wave tube (TWT), which together with supporting devices could amplify signals over 10,000 times. The TWT was a fascinating gadget. By the standards of the day, it worked quite well. TWTs had been used for some time, but by Telstar's time their limitations had been overcome, and they were efficient amplifiers. The helix TWT variant used in satellites performed reliably over millions of hours while they were in use. I can recall some of the early Telstar TV transmissions, one featuring the Pope in particular. There was some flutter and a bit of noise, but they were watchable. Telstar performed well until an ill-conceived nuclear test in 1963 damaged its electronics. I continue to marvel at what could be achieved in the 1960s. David Wardell (757) 561-0582 <mailto:da...@wardell.org> da...@wardell.org <https://wardell.us/url/b5s86> <https://wardell.us/url/s9qvz>
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Revised: 20250507 You are receiving The Mifnet because you requested to join this list. The Mifnet is largely a labor of love, however the infrastructure isn't exactly cost-free. If you'd care to make a small contribution to the effort, please know that it would be greatly appreciated: https://wardell.us/url/mifbit All posts sent to the list should abide by these policies: 1) List members acknowledge that participation in Mifnet is a privilege--not a right. 2) Posts are always off the record, absent specific permission from the author. 3) The tone of discussions is collegial. 4) Posts are expected to be in reasonably good taste. 5) We discuss ideas and not personalities, and we don't speak ill of other Mifnet members. * The Mifnet WEB SITE is: https://www.mifnet.com/ * To UNSUBSCRIBE from this list at any time please visit: https://lists.mifnet.com/ OR: SEND THIS MESSAGE via email: mifnet-requ...@lists.mifnet.com?subject=leave * Send Mifnet mailing list POSTS/SUBMISSIONS to: mifnet@lists.mifnet.com * You may reach the person managing The Mifnet at: mifnet-ow...@lists.mifnet.com * Please consider the DIGEST version of The Mifnet, which consolidates all list traffic into 1-3 messages daily. See instructions at: https://lists.mifnet.com/ * Manage your personal Mifnet SUBSCRIPTION at: https://lists.mifnet.com/ * For a list of all available Mifnet commands, SEND THIS MESSAGE via email: mifnet-requ...@lists.mifnet.com?subject=help * View The Mifnet LIST POLICIES and PRIVACY POLICY at: https://mifnet.com/index.php/policies * View instructions for Mifnet DELIVERY PROBLEMS at: https://mifnet.com/index.php/delivery-problems * View The Mifnet LIST ARCHIVE at: https://lists.mifnet.com/hyperkitty/list/mifnet@lists.mifnet.com/
