Communications Satellite Put Into First ‘Stationary’ Orbit

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30057, 15 February 1963, Page 9

Communications Satellite Put Into First ‘Stationary’ Orbit

(N.Z.P.A -Reuter—Copyright)

CAPE CANAVERAL (Florida), February 14.

The United States early today rocketed a new communications satellite called Syncom on a tricky journey towards a “stationary” orbit some 22,300 miles out in space.

A Thor-Delta rocket streaked from its launching pad into a cold, crisp, black night with a brilliant blaze of flame and vapour at 5.35 p.m. New Zealand time bearing the 861 b drum-shaped satellite in its nose cone.

Scientists were hopeful that the usually-reliable booster rocket could zig-zag the satellite through an intricate series of manoeuvres which within five and a quarter hours would put it into “synchronous” orbit—one In which the satellite would circle the earth at the same speed at which the earth revolves on its own axis. Then the satellite would always be over the same portion of the globe like an apparently stationary star permitting round-the-clock intercontinental communications between ground stations within electronic “sight” of it. This is the first time an attempt has been made to perform this feat. From Cape Canaveral it involves programming the

threg-stage Thor-Delta rocket to stop its engines, coast in a “parking orbit” then restart them at various pre-set intervals during the first nine minutes of flight. By then the rocket and the satellite should be high over the Indian Ocean between Madagascar and the east coast of Africa. At that point the rocket will give Syncom its final “kick,” boasting it

to a speed of more 22,800 miles an hour so that it can escape the pull of earth’s gravity. Then Syncom will climb tor five hours six minutes until at orbital height a little rocket motor in its tail ignites and burns*for 18 seconds, pushing the satellite over into its orbital path. A ground station on a navy ship off the west coast of Africa is waiting to conduct the first tests with Syncom which, unlike its more sophisticated predecessors Telstar and Relay, can handle only telephone and teletype calls. [ As trie rocket's brilliant

tail died away to a faint glow, launching officials reported all stages of the rocket had performed as planned. Performance Data' Despite its limited communications potential, Syncom will give space scientists enough data to check their theories about the performance of such high-attitude satellites. It will also help the United States determine which satellite system will give its newly-formed satellite communications corporation the most efficient global service. Just three satellites in synchronous orbit could blanket the earth whereas it would take a system of up to 50 satellites like Telstar and Relay to provide dependable round-the-clock and round-the-globe service. Though they can relay television signals, these satellites orbit the earth at much lower heights—up to 5000 miles out—end at much greater speeds and so are in range of ground stations for only brief periods of up to 30 minutes.

Even if it successfully reaches the target height of 22,300 miles and is injected into orbit at the required speed of 6831 miles mi hour, Syncom will not be in a precise synchronous orbit. Figure-Eight Orbit It had to be launched from here at an inclination of some 33 degrees to the Equator and as a result will appear from earth to describe an elongated figurepattern over an area of the Atlantic between Africa and South America once every 24 hours. R is not expected to settle down in this pattern for up to two weeks after launching and until then no public demonstrations of its relay capacities will be attempted. The first technical tests of its communications equipment white in orbit are not due to be made for another five days.