On This Day in Telephone History May 7TH 1963 Telstar 2 placed in orbit to learn further how to overcome the effects of radiation and extend the useful life of communications satellites in space. TELSTAR 2 was essentially identical to the TELSTAR 1 satellite. Telstar 2 differed from Telstar 1 by employing provisions for scientific information to be transmitted in real time via the microwave telemetry system so that telemetry could be obtained after the 2 year timer had turned off the VHF beacon. On May 16, 1965, at 1403 UT, during the satellite’s 4736 orbit, the VHF transmitter was turned off. All systems operated normally until that time.
