ATS-1

American communications technology satellite. ATS 1. During its 18 year lifetime, ATS-1 examined spin stabilization techniques, investigated the geostationary environment, and performed several communications experiments. Communication / Meteorology satellite built by Hughes for NASA, USA. Launched 1966 - 1967. Used the HS-306 bus.

Its VHF experiment tested the ability to act as a link between ground stations and aircraft, demonstrated collection of meteorological data from remote terminals, and evaluated the feasibility of using VHF signals for navigation.

ATS-1 transmitted educational programs and provided health, research, and community services to the US and several Pacific island countries, including the Cook, Mariana, Marshall and Caroline Islands, West and American Samoa, Melanesia, New Zealand, and Australia. The mission also provided the first full-Earth cloud cover images.

The spin stabilized spacecraft had an aluminum structure, with a drum solar array providing 180W BOL. Other systems included 2 6 Ah NiCd batteries, a hydrazine stationkeeping system, a nutation damper, two sun sensors, and two accelerometers. Payloads included ion detectors, spectrometers, a camera, a C-band communications experiment (also used for international television broadcasts) and a VHF communications package