Intelsat

is the common name of the world's largest commercial satellite communications services provider. It currently owns and operates a constellation of 51 communications satellites, and provides telecommunications services in almost 150 countries, territories and dependencies.

History

The International Telecommunications Satellite Consortium (ITSC) was formed on August 11, 1964, with eleven participating countries. On April 6, 1965, Intelsat I (nicknamed Early Bird) was placed in geostationary orbit above the Atlantic Ocean, thereby becomming the world's first commercial communications satellite. Early Bird began providing television and voice services on June 28, 1965. The world's first global satellite communications system was completed when Intelsat III was placed in geostationary orbit above the Indian Ocean, on July 1, 1969. On July 20, 1969, viewers around the world were able to watch Neil Armstrong become the first man to walk on the Moon, thanks to Intelsat.

The ITSC was superseded by the International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (ITSO) in 1973, by which time it had 80 participating nations. On July 18, 2001, the quasi-governmental ITSO became a privately owned and operated company, under the name Intelsat, Ltd.

The official Intelsat website is www.intelsat.com.

The Mission and Spacecraft Library. msl.jpl.nasa.gov/Programs/intelsat.html

Questions or comments about this page?

This page was last updated on 09/29/2011.