Beyond The Ionosphere: Fifty Years of Satellite Communication

Satellite communications are at the very heart of the notion of a "global village" and constitute continually growing, multibillion dollar, civil and military enterprise deserving recognition. Much fanfare accompanied the first satellite television broadcasts. Yet, as the technology has grown increasingly pervasive, satellites have become an almost invisible part of the cultural landscape. Simultaneously, satellite communication has become a tremendous international commercial success, currently…