Hermes Communications Technology Satellite
Encyclopedia
The Communications Technology Satellite, also known as Hermes was an experimental high-power direct broadcast communications satellite
. It was a joint effort of Canada
's Department of Communications, who designed and managed it, NASA
who launched it and provided a traveling wave guide, the European Space Agency
or ESA who provided the 1200 watt solar panel
s and other devices. The three agencies shared the satellite and the data from the experiments.
It was launched on January 17, 1976 from Cape Canaveral
, or Cape Kennedy in Florida
by a Delta rocket
. Designed for a two year mission it was the basis of experiments past its intended lifetime until November 1979 when a system failure broke all contacts with it. Unlike most communications satellites of the period, which had spin stabilized bodies covered with solar cell
s, the Hermes CTS was three-axis stabilized and had its solar panels spread out on two huge "wings".
The satellite was meant to test the practical aspects of a high powered satellite using large antennas beaming television signals directly to homes equipped with small antennas, and two-way communications with mobile stations. When it was launched it was the most powerful communications satellite in existence.
Several communities in the Canadian wilderness participated in a series of realistic tests of its capacities. Experiments in telemedicine for Emergency medical service, teleconferencing and community TV were conducted. The satellite was also used to televise Stanley Cup
hockey playoffs to Canadian diplomats in Peru
to demonstrate its international capacity. It covered about 40% of the Earth's surface, from its geostationary orbit
. In Canada alone 37 tests were done using a family of 27 ground terminals. The experiments led to the creation of the hybrid Anik B satellite which was both a standard Anik
model and a platform for pilot projects of direct broadcast TV.
In 1987 Canada's Department of Communications and NASA received an Emmy award
for developing direct broadcast TV satellite technology with the Hermes CTS program.
Communications satellite
A communications satellite is an artificial satellite stationed in space for the purpose of telecommunications...
. It was a joint effort of Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
's Department of Communications, who designed and managed it, NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
who launched it and provided a traveling wave guide, the European Space Agency
European Space Agency
The European Space Agency , established in 1975, is an intergovernmental organisation dedicated to the exploration of space, currently with 18 member states...
or ESA who provided the 1200 watt solar panel
Photovoltaic module
A solar panel is a packaged, connected assembly of solar cells, also known as photovoltaic cells...
s and other devices. The three agencies shared the satellite and the data from the experiments.
It was launched on January 17, 1976 from Cape Canaveral
Cape Canaveral
Cape Canaveral, from the Spanish Cabo Cañaveral, is a headland in Brevard County, Florida, United States, near the center of the state's Atlantic coast. Known as Cape Kennedy from 1963 to 1973, it lies east of Merritt Island, separated from it by the Banana River.It is part of a region known as the...
, or Cape Kennedy in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
by a Delta rocket
Delta rocket
Delta is a versatile family of expendable launch systems that has provided space launch capability in the United States since 1960. There have been more than 300 Delta rockets launched, with a 95 percent success rate. Two Delta launch systems – Delta II and Delta IV – are in active use...
. Designed for a two year mission it was the basis of experiments past its intended lifetime until November 1979 when a system failure broke all contacts with it. Unlike most communications satellites of the period, which had spin stabilized bodies covered with solar cell
Solar cell
A solar cell is a solid state electrical device that converts the energy of light directly into electricity by the photovoltaic effect....
s, the Hermes CTS was three-axis stabilized and had its solar panels spread out on two huge "wings".
The satellite was meant to test the practical aspects of a high powered satellite using large antennas beaming television signals directly to homes equipped with small antennas, and two-way communications with mobile stations. When it was launched it was the most powerful communications satellite in existence.
Several communities in the Canadian wilderness participated in a series of realistic tests of its capacities. Experiments in telemedicine for Emergency medical service, teleconferencing and community TV were conducted. The satellite was also used to televise Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
hockey playoffs to Canadian diplomats in Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
to demonstrate its international capacity. It covered about 40% of the Earth's surface, from its geostationary orbit
Geostationary orbit
A geostationary orbit is a geosynchronous orbit directly above the Earth's equator , with a period equal to the Earth's rotational period and an orbital eccentricity of approximately zero. An object in a geostationary orbit appears motionless, at a fixed position in the sky, to ground observers...
. In Canada alone 37 tests were done using a family of 27 ground terminals. The experiments led to the creation of the hybrid Anik B satellite which was both a standard Anik
Anik (satellite)
The Anik satellites are geostationary communications satellites launched by Telesat Canada for television in Canada. In Inuktitut, Anik means "little brother".-The Satellites:-Anik A:...
model and a platform for pilot projects of direct broadcast TV.
In 1987 Canada's Department of Communications and NASA received an Emmy award
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
for developing direct broadcast TV satellite technology with the Hermes CTS program.