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Communication Technology

The first cell phone call was performed on April 3, 1973

The first cell phone call was made by Martin Cooper (born December 26, 1928), a researcher at Motorola, on April 3, 1973. Cooper was working on developing the first handheld mobile phone, which he called the DynaTAC. The phone was large and bulky, weighing about 2.5 pounds, and it had a battery life of only about 20 minutes of talk time.

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Space Exploration Communication This Day in Science, Technology, Astronomy, and Space Exploration History

Syncom 2, the first geosynchronous satellite was launched on July 26, 1963

On July 26, 1963, Syncom 2 (for Synchronous Communication Satellite) was launched on top of a Delta B #20 launch vehicle from Cape Canaveral.

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Communication Space Exploration This Day in Science, Technology, Astronomy, and Space Exploration History

Telstar 1, the satellite that allowed the first live broadcast of television images was launched on July 10, 1962

On July 10, 1962, Telstar 1, the satellite that allowed the first live broadcast of television images was launched from Cape Canaveral. It was the first privately sponsored space mission. Two days after the launch, on July 12, it relayed the world’s first transatlantic television signal, from Andover Earth Station, Maine, United States, to the Pleumeur-Bodou Telecom Center, Brittany, France.

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Space Exploration Communication This Day in Science, Technology, Astronomy, and Space Exploration History

TDRS-6 was launched on January 13, 1993

On January 13, 1993, Tracking and Data Relay Satellite 6 (TDRS-6), the American communications satellite launched by Space Shuttle Endeavour. TDRS-6 is still operational today, well past its intended design life”.