Early Bird Credit - NASA

Intelsat 1, also called Early Bird, was the world's first commercial communications satellite. It provided the first scheduled transoceanic TV service and was operational for 3.5 years. In 1984, the satellite was briefly reactivated to celebrate ITSO's 20th anniversary. Spacecraft: Spin stabilized. Payload: Two 6 W transponders with 50 Mhz bandwidth. No multiple access.240 voice circuits or one TV channel.

Design Life: 18 months. Typical orbit: Geosynchronous. Length: 0.59 m (1.93 ft). Maximum Diameter: 0.72 m (2.36 ft). Mass: 39 kg (85 lb). Associated Launch Vehicle: Delta D.

• 1965 April 6 - Intelsat 1 F-1 - Program: Intelsat. Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Delta D. Mass: 39 kg (85 lb). Perigee: 35,746 km (22,211 mi). Apogee: 35,819 km (22,256 mi). Inclination: 11.70 deg. Period: 1,435.90 min.

  Over Atlantic. Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C). Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 28 deg W in 1965; 38 deg W in 1965-1966. As of 27 July 2001 located at 92.54 deg W drifting at 0.324 deg W per day. As of 2007 Jan 13 located at 47.74W drifting at 0.017E degrees per day.

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