After pioneering this technology and growing the market, COMSAT fell prey to changes in government policy and to its own lack of entrepreneurial talent. The author explores the factors which contributed to this rise and fall of COMSAT.

List of Figures and Tables vi

Acknowledgements vii

Note on Sources viii

Introduction: A Technological Camelot 1

1 The Communications Satellite Act of 1962 6

2 Creating COMSAT 37

3 Creating Intelsat 67

4 Rising to the Peak 88

5 Mobile Satellite Communications 112

6 Technology 131

7 Domsats (COMSTAR and SBS) 144

8 Direct Broadcast Satellites 172

9 The Old Guard Retires 184

10 Fadeout 203

Epilog: Post-Mortem 222

Glossary 226

Notes 233

Index 271

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