part 2:

Satellite Communications Case Histories 38 1. Franz T. Geyling How Do We Calculate a Satellite’s Orbit? 41 2. Peter Hrycak What Color Should a Satellite Be? 48 3. Jeofry S. Courtney-pratt How Can We Make Optical Measurements on a Satellite? 53 4. Kenneth D. Smith How Do We Keep Solar Cell Power Plants Working in Space? 62 5. Peter D. Bricker Would Time Delay Be a Problem in Using a Synchronous Satellite? 70 6. E. Jared Reid How Can We Repair an Orbiting Satellite? 78 Suggested Reading 87

Introduction

Despite the title, this is not a physics textbook, and it will tell you only part of the fascinating story of satellite communications. However, we have tried to tell this story in a rather special way. Part I explains why we are so interested in communicating by means of man-made satellites, describes the important events in the progress of satellite communications (with special emphasis on Project Telstar), and points out some of the very knotty problems that had to be solved. Then, in