Scrapbook 3: 'Everything appears to be perfect'

‘Everything appears to be perfect’

Evening Standard Reporter: Cape Canaveral, Tuesday

A TRIUMPH! That’s the jubilant reaction of scientists and engineers here this afternoon as TELSTAR, the world’s first TV satellite, makes its third successful orbit of the earth.

“Everything seems to be perfect. We are very proud of today’s achievement,” said a spokesman of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

All is set for transatlantic television.

Scientists here this afternoon were getting ready to conduct the first experiments in transmitting messages to Telstar for relay back to earth.

Simple

Telephone contacts, transmission of TV messages and black and white pictures are planned as soon as the satellite passes over the correct positions.

PETER FAIRLEY writes:

Tonight—61 years and seven months after radio contact was first made across the Atlantic—a picture should flash back on to British TV screens.

It will be simple. An engineer’s test card. Or a technician’s face.

Staying open

But it will be historic. The BBC and ITV networks will stay open until 1.30 a.m. to bring it “live.”

Shortly after launching, American engineers announced that the first test would probably be made between midnight and 1 a.m. (London time).

It will be one of the most complicated experiments of the space age.

Stay-up-late night—PAGE THIRTEEN.

The Thor Delta rocket rises on its tail of flame as Telstar heads into orbit from Cape Canaveral today.