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ATS-6 - A satellite for human needsOn May 30, 1974, NASA launched the ATS-6 experimental communications satellite into a geosynchronous orbit at a station centered over the United States. The 1400 kg satellite was designed to be body-stabilized with a 3-axis control system capable of precision offset pointing. It deployed a 9.1 meter (30 foot) parabolic reflector antenna with a transponder that covered a frequency range from VHF through C-band. The high RF gains obtained with the antenna were to be used for many dramatic communications experiments, one of which was the Health/Education Telecommunications Experiment (HET), a demonstration of direct broadcast of color television to low cost terminals in remote regions of the United States. More than 120 terminals with 3-meter antennas were deployed in Alaska, Washington, the Rocky Mountains, and Appalachia to provide educational and health services to selected community centers. After 11 months of nearly continuous service, the performance of both the satellite and the experiment have exceeded all expectations.
Document ID
19750053963
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Whalen, A. A.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, Md., United States)
Johnston, W. A., Jr.
(Fairchild Space and Electronics Co. Germantown, Md., United States)
Date Acquired
August 8, 2013
Publication Date
July 1, 1975
Subject Category
Launch Vehicles And Space Vehicles
Report/Patent Number
AIAA PAPER 75-900
Meeting Information
Meeting: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Conference on Communication Satellites for Health/Education Applications
Location: Denver, CO
Start Date: July 21, 1975
End Date: July 23, 1975
Sponsors: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Accession Number
75A38035
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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