Communication · 1962
Telstar communications satellite
Live television crosses the Atlantic by satellite for the first time.
Bell Labs' Telstar 1, launched in July 1962, relayed the first live transatlantic TV pictures and telephone calls. It proved active communications satellites worked, starting an industry that now carries broadcast TV, internet backhaul and navigation.
What it built on 4
What it led to 2
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Related measurements
The dashed line marks when it first worked.
Objects launched into space Latest: 4.51k per year (2025) Source: Our World in Data