# Communications Technology Satellite

> multinational communications satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q1612589](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1612589)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communications_Technology_Satellite)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/communications-technology-satellite

## Summary
The Communications Technology Satellite (CTS), also known as Hermes, was a multinational communications satellite launched in 1976 as a joint project between Canada and the United States. It was designed to advance satellite communications technology and operated in geostationary orbit until 1979.

## Key Facts
- Launched on January 17, 1976, at 23:27:54 UTC from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17B
- Operated by the Communications Research Centre Canada
- Had a launch mass of 675.8 kg and a service entry mass of 334.75 kg
- Measured 16.08 meters in width, 1.88 meters in height (spacecraft bus), and 1.82 meters in diameter (spacecraft bus)
- Powered by two spacecraft solar arrays providing 1360 watts maximum and two nickel-cadmium batteries
- Entered service on May 21, 1976
- Experienced a breakdown in November 1979
- Had the COSPAR ID 1976-004A and NSSDCA ID 1976-004A

## FAQs
### Q: What was the Communications Technology Satellite's primary purpose?
A: The CTS was designed to advance satellite communications technology through experimental high-power, high-frequency communications capabilities, serving as a platform for testing new communications techniques and equipment.

### Q: Who operated the Communications Technology Satellite?
A: The Communications Research Centre Canada operated the CTS, with significant contributions from NASA and the European Space Agency in its development and components.

### Q: How long did the Communications Technology Satellite operate?
A: The CTS operated for approximately three and a half years, from its service entry in May 1976 until its breakdown in November 1979.

## Why It Matters
The Communications Technology Satellite represented a significant milestone in international space cooperation and communications technology development. As a joint venture between Canada and the United States, it demonstrated the potential for multinational collaboration in space technology advancement. The satellite's high-power capabilities and experimental nature allowed researchers to test and validate new communications techniques that would influence future satellite designs. Its contributions to direct broadcasting and mobile communications research helped pave the way for modern satellite communication systems. The CTS project also strengthened Canada's position in the global space industry and established important precedents for international space cooperation that continue to influence collaborative space projects today.

## Notable For
- First high-power direct broadcast satellite, operating at 600 watts compared to typical 20-watt satellites of the era
- Advanced traveling-wave tube technology developed jointly by NASA's Glenn Research Center and the European Space Agency
- Pioneered direct-to-home broadcasting capabilities that influenced future satellite television systems
- Served as a testbed for mobile satellite communications, including experiments with portable ground stations
- Represented one of the most significant early examples of successful Canada-US space cooperation

## Body
### Development and Launch
The Communications Technology Satellite was announced on April 20, 1971, as a joint project between Canada and the United States. The satellite was manufactured primarily by the Communications Research Centre Canada, with significant contributions from NASA's Glenn Research Center and the European Space Agency. The Delta 2000 launch vehicle (D-119 configuration) successfully placed CTS into geostationary orbit on January 17, 1976.

### Technical Specifications
CTS featured advanced communications capabilities for its time, including a 600-watt transmitter power output - significantly higher than the 20-watt standard of contemporary satellites. The spacecraft measured 16.08 meters in width when fully deployed, with a spacecraft bus measuring 1.88 meters in height and 1.82 meters in diameter. The satellite was powered by two solar arrays capable of generating 1360 watts maximum, supplemented by two nickel-cadmium batteries for eclipse operations.

### Operational History
After launch, CTS entered service on May 21, 1976, and conducted extensive experimental communications operations. The satellite served as a platform for testing direct broadcasting, mobile communications, and other advanced communications techniques. Throughout its operational life, CTS supported numerous experiments and demonstrations that advanced the state of satellite communications technology. The satellite experienced a breakdown in November 1979, ending its operational mission after approximately three and a half years of service.

### International Collaboration
The CTS project exemplified successful international space cooperation, with Canada providing the primary spacecraft and mission management, NASA contributing the launch vehicle and traveling-wave tube technology, and the European Space Agency providing additional communications equipment. This multinational approach allowed for the sharing of expertise and resources, resulting in a more capable satellite than any single nation might have developed independently. The project established important precedents for future international space collaborations and strengthened technological ties between the participating nations.

## References

1. [Source](https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/19830007074)
2. [Source](https://github.com/JohnMarkOckerbloom/ftl/blob/master/data/wikimap)
3. Jonathan's Space Report
4. Communication Satellites, Fifth Edition
5. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
6. [Source](https://web.archive.org/web/20141021070348/http://www.canadaconnects.ca/space/main/1204/)
7. [Source](https://history.nasa.gov/SP-4217/ch14.htm)
8. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/cts.htm)
9. [Source](http://aerospace.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/bk_comm-sats_ch1.pdf)
10. [Source](https://arc.aiaa.org/doi/10.2514/6.1980-578)
11. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File