Exploring the Unknown - NASA's History Office

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As is common practice, we would expect that much of the work on the communications
system would be contracted to other private companies as was done in the Echo
experiment, for example, on the transmitting antenna. NASA may also wish to contract
with others for many of the other items involved, such as mechanisms for multiple launching,
satellite orientation arrangements, etc.
If, as we are confident, this experiment is successful, it is our plan to move as promptly
as possible toward the establishment of a commercial satellite communications system
which will be integrated with existing common carrier communications facilities, both
here and abroad. When this system is operational circuits will be made available to other
communications common carriers for use in their business, just as circuits are now available
in overseas telephone cables. The proposals that we are making should [5] be of substantial
value to the military and other government departments as well as to the other
users of our services and those of other communications carriers.
I hope that this outline will offer a useful basis for approaching the problems which
we discussed last week.
**********
Sincerely,
F. R. KAPPEL
[1] Attachment No. 4
Western Electric Company
INCORPORATED
Defense Activities Division
120 Broadway, New York 5, N.Y.
Area Code 212 571-5761
C. R. SMITH
VICE PRESIDENT
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, Maryland
Attention: Procurement and Supply Division
JDC:241:mj
Gentlemen:
THE HISTORY OF SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS
March 20, 1961
The attached proposal is submitted in response to your Request for Proposal No.
GS-1861, Low Altitude Active Communications Satellite, dated January 4, 1961 and the
Telegraphic Amendment thereto dated February 24, 1961.
This response contains three separate and complete proposals. Proposal 1 is based on
the use of frequencies in the 400-500 and 2,200-2,300 mc bands. Proposals 2 and 3 are
based on the use of frequencies in the 5,925-6,425 and 3,800-4,200 mc bands, as requested
in the Telegraphic Amendment of February 24, 1961. Proposal 3 differs from
Proposal 2 in that it includes a contractor-furnished radiation experiment package.