6
Here's why it was possible for millions to witness the Gemini 76 recoveries
as they happened, live, hundreds of miles at
sea.
SCHIRRA
STAFFORD -ABOARD U.S.S. WASP
SCHIO
Coverage of the Gemini 6 and 7 astronauts' successful return to Earth marked a historic TV "first"-live ac- tion televised far out at sea. The events were beamed in- stantly to millions of North Americans and Europeans.
Eyewitness news like this was made possible by ITT's transportable satellite- communication earth sta- tion. Located aboard the Navy aircraft carrier U.S.S. Wasp, the station transmit-
ted microwave signals from TV cameras on the carrier via the Comsat Early Bird satellite and ground station at Andover, Maine.
From Andover, the sig- nals were simultaneously distributed via microwave to the U.S. TV networks' facili- ties and retransmitted via Early Bird to ground sta- tions in Europe.
ITT's transportable earth station opens new horizons in communications. Now vir- tually any event on earth may be televised internation- ally as it happens, wherever it happens.
The earth station was designed, built and installed by ITT Federal Laboratories. It was operated aboard the U.S.S. Wasp by ITT World
Communications Inc., the in- ternational communications subsidiary of ITT.
Today there are nine ITT earth stations around the world. All have performed successfully in a variety of satellite-communication tests using Telstar, and NASA's Relay and Syncom.
Helping people and na- tions communicate-that's a vital part of ITT's business. ITT Far East and Pacific Inc., 24 Des Voeux Road, Central Hong Kong.
worldwide telecommunications and electronics
ITT
Far East Architect & Builder September, 1966