SATELLITE TELEVISION
TV FROM SPACE
The concept of modern communications satellites was first put forward by Arthur C. Clarke in 1945, and first implemented in 1965 by Early Bird, built and launched in the USA. It is based on the use of a geosynchronous orbit in the plane of the equator, wherein the satellite orbits at an altitude of 36 000 km at a speed of 11 000 km/h. Under these circumstances it appears stationary to an observer on earth, and can act as a ‘mirror in the sky’ to radio waves. The sky-path 36 000 km above the equator is called the Clarke belt and individual spots on it are known as orbital slots. These slots are defined and allocated by international agreement. The governing body for satellite slot allocation is the ...
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