On December 18, 1958, an Atlas rocket launched the Signal Communication by Orbiting Relay Equipment (SCORE) satellite, marking it as the first prototype of a communications satellite and the initial test of any satellite for direct practical applications. The communications payload was placed into low Earth orbit using Atlas serial number 10B, which did not have an upper stage. Weighing 8,750 lb (3,970 kg), Atlas 10B/SCORE became the heaviest artificial object in orbit at that time, as well as the first voice relay satellite and the first human-made object in space that could be seen with the naked eye due to its large, mirror-polished stainless steel tank. This mission initiated a long career for the Atlas as a satellite launcher.
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| Project SCORE "Goldcraft" launch cover, postmarked at Port Canaveral on December 18, 1958. SCORE (Signal Communications by Orbiting Relay Equipment) was the world’s first purpose-built communications satellite. |
On the first orbit, as the satellite passed over California, the primary payload did not respond properly. Finally on 19 December, the backup tape recorder responded to coded commands from the ground and transmitted the US President's message on a short-wave frequency to the world below:
"This is the President of the United States speaking. Through the marvels of scientific advance, my voice is coming to you from a satellite traveling in outer space. My message is a simple one: Through this unique means, I convey to you and all mankind, America's wish for peace on Earth and goodwill toward men everywhere."
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| Photo: The Atlas relayed a dramatic Christmas message from President Eisenhower on December 19, calling for peace on Earth. The pre-recorded broadcast was received by a tracking station at Cape Canaveral, Florida, and then transmitted through the Pentagon to the White House for the President to listen to. Following this, President Eisenhower is pictured in Press Secretary Hagerty's office as he listens to a tape recording of his message for photographers. |
The backup SCORE package continued to work perfectly, responding to 78 realtime and store-and-forward voice and teletype transmissions between ground stations located in Georgia, Texas, Arizona and California. After 12 days, the batteries exhausted and on 21 January 1959, the satellite re-entered the Earth's atmosphere and was destroyed.
(Reference from
SCORE (satellite))
