| Maybe we haven't conquered outer space yet, but | | | | television network. It was primitive by today's |
| there's little argument that we have made bang-up | | | | standards, but it was a start. See more of this |
| progress since the first attempts to get into the | | | | subject at |
| heavens. The space age actually began in 1946, when | | | | Today, the method of Satellite TV has gotten very |
| captured German V-2 rockets were used to take | | | | effective: we now get clear signals, reliable |
| measurements in the upper atmosphere. Prior to this, | | | | transmission, and several providers that guarantee |
| scientists used balloons that went up about 20 miles | | | | that there's always something good to watch. And, |
| and radio waves were used to study the ionosphere. | | | | with VCRs and TiVo you can record your favorite |
| This continued to about 1952. | | | | shows and watch them when it's convenient for you. |
| The U.S. had been considering launching orbital | | | | The coach potatoes of this today thus began their |
| satellites since 1945 under the Bureau of Aeronautics | | | | affections for TV satellite networks. HBO began |
| of the United States Navy. The U.S. Air Force at first | | | | broadcasting their signals to cable companies, who |
| considered satellites to be a tool for science, politics, | | | | sold you access to the channel via subscription. The |
| and propaganda. Following pressure by the American | | | | problem, naturally, was that for every channel you |
| Rocket Society, the National Science Foundation, and | | | | subscribed to you had to pay a little extra. This was |
| the International Geophysical Year, military interest | | | | not acceptable news for the austere channel surfers |
| picked up and in early 1955 the Air Force and Navy | | | | who want to have over 100 channels accessible. And |
| were working on Project Orbiter, which involved | | | | it got pretty frustrating for those who heard about a |
| using a Jupiter C rocket to launch a little satellite | | | | new movie or sports event being shown, only to |
| called Explorer 1 on January 31, 1958. | | | | discover that the signal was blocked and accessible |
| Meanwhile, in 1957 the Soviet Union launched Sputnik, | | | | only to premium subscribers. |
| the earth's first artificial satellite. It sent back the first | | | | But soon cable companies and satellite dish companies |
| images of outer space, beating the United States by | | | | recognized the potential in making satellite television |
| one year, and resulting in the first satellite | | | | transmission accessible to everyone at an affordable |
| transmissions from room. From that we have | | | | price. Today it's hard to find a household that does |
| evolved to what we take for granted today in terms | | | | not have cable or satellite broadcasted into their |
| of satellite television. This is considered the beginning | | | | habitat. |
| of the room race between the U.S and the U.S.S.R. | | | | So maybe the space race of history isn't what it |
| This contention between the Soviet Union and the | | | | used to be. We may or may not colonize Mars in our |
| United States pretty much ushered in the beginning | | | | lifetime. But at least we can watch transmissions |
| of satellite intercommunication. By 1973, Canada's | | | | from around the world in real time. Remote control |
| satellite Anik I became the world's first satellite | | | | fans rejoice! |