What About the Future?
As this is written (June 1963), second Relay and Syncom launchings are in the offing. And there are plans for more experimentation with passive satellites, including a new, more nearly rigid Echo balloon.
Further in the future, studies are going on of a proposed Intermediate Altitude Communications Satellite for military use in the 6,000- to 10,000-mile-high range (beyond that of Telstar and Relay) and Advanced Syncom, a synchronous satellite of increased capacity. Work is also continuing to acquire new technical knowledge that will be needed in the future—such as various methods of keeping satellites stabilized in space and new ways of supplying power, including improved solar cells and the use of radioisotopes.
The ultimate goal, of course, is a working commercial communications satellite system. Exactly when this will be a reality—and what form it will take—are questions whose answers still lie ahead of us.
The orbits of four communications satellites vary in size and shape
| Echo I | 1000 miles | 1000 miles |
| Relay I | 4612 Miles | 820 miles |
| Telstar I | 3531 miles | 592 miles |
| Telstar II | 6697 miles | 604 miles |