The Canadian Teleglobe story

 

 
 
 

 

 
 

Extract of Teleglobe Canada History and the Early Bird satellite history Page 1

The History of Teleglobe

Teleglobe traces its origins to the formation in 1950 of the Canadian Overseas Telecommunications Corporation (COTC), a Crown Corporation owned by the Government of  Canada. The new company operated as the exclusive provider of telecommunications services to and from Canada, initially relying on VHF radio facilities to provide international telegraph and telephone service.

During the company’s first twenty years, the COTC significantly advanced Canada’s international communications capabilities. In 1956, COTC, along with counterparts in the US and UK, built and launched TAT-1, the world’s first multi-purpose coaxial submarine cable.

The 36 circuit TAT-1 cable dramatically improved the quality and availability of international telephone services, which had previously been subject to the cooperative atmospheric conditions required by international radio circuits.

During the 1960’s, the COTC greatly expanded Canadian telephone connectivity. With the deployment of new undersea cables, higher quality international telephone and telex communications became a reality for Canadians. These early cable systems included:

 CANTAT-1 linking Canada with the United Kingdom;

 ICECAN linking Canada with Iceland and Greenland;

 COMPAC linking Canada, Australia and New Zealand; and,

 SEACOM linking Canada with countries of the Pacific Rim.

During this time, COTC was also a participant in the research efforts and launch of "Early Bird," the world’s first international commercial communications satellite. An earth station was built at Mill Village, Nova Scotia to operate satellite services between Canada and Europe. The success of international satellite communications led to the formation of the International

Telecommunications Satellite Organization (INTELSAT). COTC was designated the Canadian Signatory to this international treaty organization.

Here the OMERTA Teleglobe Code start publicly to disclose the year by the approximated data of the given date.

Throughout the 1970’s, COTC continued developing its service capabilities. In 1970, the company introduced a computerized telex exchange at the Montreal Gateway that permitted subscriber-to-subscriber dialing across the international telex network. In 1971, it inaugurated an international switching and transmission center in Toronto. In 1976, the COTC introduced international direct dialing for Canadians calling the United Kingdom, West Germany, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines.

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In keeping with the technological advances and computerization of companies that began in earnest in the 1970’s, COTC began providing international data transmission services that included several firsts, such as:

 The world’s first private leased circuit between (Power Corporation by) is Canada Life Assurance Company’s offices in Toronto and London;

 The first Canadian digital satellite transmission of newspapers; including, the Paris daily, Le Figaro and Correire della Sera of Milan; (associated with Power Corporation who owne many Journal and paper and also who in 1979 hire, before the end of his term, the CTRSM president well informe: (like the QRC of the ACILR-CDRIL two conception) and,

 The inauguration of Globefax, Canada’s first overseas public facsimile service.

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True story of the Early Bird
Teleglobe

From Teleglobe: Early Bird satellite history

From Boeing: The real EARLY BIRD History

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a
   

Diameter
 0.71 m (2 ft. 4 in.)

Height
 0.59 m (1 ft. 11 in.)

Weight in Orbit
 34 kg (76 lb)

 

  

   

 
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World's First Commercial Communications Satellite


Early Bird, the world's first commercial communications satellite, was built for the Communications Satellite Corporation (COMSAT) by the Space and Communications Group of Hughes Aircraft Company, later Hughes Space and Communications Company, and now Boeing Satellite Systems. The satellite was launched into synchronous orbit on April 6, 1965. It was placed in commercial service on June 28. Early Bird's design stemmed from the Syncom satellites Hughes had built for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to demonstrate the feasibility of communications from synchronous orbit. On station in orbit 22,300 miles above the equator, Early Bird provided line of sight communications between Europe and North America. As a communications repeater, Early Bird handled communications that were representative of all types of common carrier network traffic, including telephone, television, telegraph, and facsimile transmissions.

As the forerunner of a synchronous satellite system that would furnish communications to all the populated areas of the world, Early Bird, with capability of 240 circuits or one TV channel, successfully demonstrated the concept of synchronous satellites for commercial communications. While designed for an operational lifetime of only 18 months, the satellite was in continuous, full-time service for nearly 4 years. It was placed on reserve status in January 1969, but recalled into service in June of that year for use during the Apollo 11 mission. Two months later the satellite was again retired from active service and placed in orbital reserve by COMSAT. The satellite is currently inactive.

Features

  • Spin stabilized--gyroscopic action eliminated need for complex attitude control systems
  • Solar power for constant operation
  • Provided point-to-point communications

The primary advantage of a synchronous orbit communications satellite is that ground installations are greatly simplified. By virtue of the satellite's "fixed" position, complex and expensive tracking antennas are not required. However, in order to hold its position in relation to the Earth's axis, the satellite must be placed directly above the equator. Since Early Bird was launched from Cape Kennedy, which is north of the equator, certain maneuvers were necessary to properly position the satellite. These were performed by means of commands from the Earth station located at Andover, Maine. The launch vehicle for Early Bird was the Thrust Augmented Delta (TAD), a three-stage rocket built by Douglas Aircraft Company. Launched with its apogee motor in a forward position, Early Bird was aligned by the Delta's third stage at an angle of 16.7 degrees to the equator and spin stabilized. It was separated from the third stage at 26 minutes, 32 seconds after liftoff and coasted to its first apogee of 23,081 miles. During the elliptical orbits, Early Bird was precisely oriented by ground control.

With the firing of the apogee motor on the sixth apogee, Early Bird was thrust into an almost circular equatorial orbit near 32 degrees W longitude with an eastward drift rate of 1.5 degrees per day. Final synchronization to slow the drift rate and more nearly match the earth's rotation rate was accomplished on April 14, 1965. This maneuver placed Early Bird at its planned position, 28 degrees W longitude. The attitude of the satellite was then changed to concentrate the antenna beam on the Andover and European earth stations. The earth station at Andover was equipped with Hughes-developed telemetry and command equipment. Launching services and facilities were provided by NASA in accordance with an agreement with COMSAT.

 

 

 

 
Teleglobe

Early Bird