TELSTAR SENT INTO ORBIT 52 YEARS AGO
Cape Canaveral, Florida (JFK+50) The first communications satellite launched by the United States, Telstar I, began its orbit of the earth 52 years ago today, July 10, 1962.
The satellite, 34.5 inches long and weighing 170 pounds, was manufactured by Bell Laboratories in conjunction with a multi-national agreement with NASA, GPO of the United Kingdom, and National PP of France.
John Robinson Pierce* was the creator of the Telstar Project at Bell Laboratories.
The outer surface of the satellite was composed of solar cells which provided 14 watts of electric power.
Telstar I orbited the earth every two hours and thirty-seven minutes and provided twenty minutes of live television transmission across the Atlantic Ocean.
The first public television transmission via Telstar I came on July 23, 1962. The life of the satellite was short-lived, however, as it temporarily went out of service in November 1962 and permanently in February 1963.
A second communications satellite, Telstar II was launched on May 7, 1963.
*John Robinson Pierce (1910-2002) was born in Des Moines, Iowa. He earned his PhD at Caltech and became supervisor at the Bell Laboratories where he directed the building of the 1st transistor.
Dr. Robinson later served as Chief Engineer at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
JFK THROWS OUT FIRST ALL-STAR PITCH
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) President John F. Kennedy, accompanied by his Presidential assistant and avid baseball fan, David Powers, threw out the 1st pitch of the All-Star baseball game at DC Stadium here in the Nation's Capital 52 years ago today, July 10, 1962.
JFK threw a "fast ball" to American League catcher Earl Battey.
London (JFK+50) Adolf Hitler's Luftwaffe or German Air Force launched attacks 74 years ago today, July 10, 1940 on Great Britain.
120 Nazi bombers and fighters struck a British Convoy in the English Channel while 70 other German aircraft attacked key installations in South Wales.
The Battle of Britain would last more than 3 months.
EUNICE KENNEDY BORN 93 YEARS AGO TODAY
Boston, Massachusetts (JFK+50) Mr. and Mrs. Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr. of 51 Abbottsford Road here in Brookline were the proud parents of a fifth child and third daughter named Eunice 93 years ago today, July 10, 1921.
The baby was delivered by Kennedy family doctor, Frederick L. Good of 64 Commonwealth Avenue.
Eunice Kennedy Shriver, founder of the Special Olympics, died on April 11, 2009.
Cape Canaveral, Florida (JFK+50) The first communications satellite launched by the United States, Telstar I, began its orbit of the earth 52 years ago today, July 10, 1962.
The satellite, 34.5 inches long and weighing 170 pounds, was manufactured by Bell Laboratories in conjunction with a multi-national agreement with NASA, GPO of the United Kingdom, and National PP of France.
John Robinson Pierce* was the creator of the Telstar Project at Bell Laboratories.
The outer surface of the satellite was composed of solar cells which provided 14 watts of electric power.
Telstar I orbited the earth every two hours and thirty-seven minutes and provided twenty minutes of live television transmission across the Atlantic Ocean.
The first public television transmission via Telstar I came on July 23, 1962. The life of the satellite was short-lived, however, as it temporarily went out of service in November 1962 and permanently in February 1963.
A second communications satellite, Telstar II was launched on May 7, 1963.
Telstar Communications Satellite
*John Robinson Pierce (1910-2002) was born in Des Moines, Iowa. He earned his PhD at Caltech and became supervisor at the Bell Laboratories where he directed the building of the 1st transistor.
Dr. Robinson later served as Chief Engineer at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Dr. John Robinson Pierce
NASA Photograph
JFK THROWS OUT FIRST ALL-STAR PITCH
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) President John F. Kennedy, accompanied by his Presidential assistant and avid baseball fan, David Powers, threw out the 1st pitch of the All-Star baseball game at DC Stadium here in the Nation's Capital 52 years ago today, July 10, 1962.
JFK threw a "fast ball" to American League catcher Earl Battey.
JFK and David Powers
1962 All-Star Baseball Game
Photo by Cecil Stoughton
JFK Library Image
JFK SIGNS BILL REQUIRING UHF FOR TV
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) President John F. Kennedy signed legislation 52 years ago today, July 10, 1962, that would require new television sets sold in the United States to include UHF channel reception capability.
In Knoxville, Tennessee in 1962 our black and white television received only two local channels, Channel 6 (NBC) and Channel 10 (CBS). I don't recall when we bought a TV with a UHF antenna but when we did, we added Channel 26 (ABC).
BATTLE OF BRITAIN BEGAN 74 YEARS AGO
London (JFK+50) Adolf Hitler's Luftwaffe or German Air Force launched attacks 74 years ago today, July 10, 1940 on Great Britain.
120 Nazi bombers and fighters struck a British Convoy in the English Channel while 70 other German aircraft attacked key installations in South Wales.
The Battle of Britain would last more than 3 months.
German Heinke 111 Bombers
Boston, Massachusetts (JFK+50) Mr. and Mrs. Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr. of 51 Abbottsford Road here in Brookline were the proud parents of a fifth child and third daughter named Eunice 93 years ago today, July 10, 1921.
The baby was delivered by Kennedy family doctor, Frederick L. Good of 64 Commonwealth Avenue.
Eunice Kennedy Shriver, founder of the Special Olympics, died on April 11, 2009.
Eunice with Special Needs Children*
Cape Cod, Massachusetts
By David Lenz (2009)
