# SCORE

> communications satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q539769](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q539769)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SCORE_(satellite))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/score

Here’s the structured knowledge entry for **SCORE**:

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## Summary  
SCORE (Signal Communications by Orbiting Relay Equipment) was the world's first communications satellite, launched in 1958 by the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). It demonstrated the feasibility of relaying voice and data signals via space, transmitting a pre-recorded Christmas message from orbit. The satellite reentered Earth's atmosphere after 35 days in orbit.

## Key Facts  
- **Launch Date**: December 18, 1958  
- **Operator**: Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)  
- **Launch Vehicle**: SM-65B Atlas missile  
- **Mass**: 70 kilograms  
- **Orbital Period**: 101.5 minutes  
- **Orbit**: Periapsis 177 km, Apoapsis 1,481 km, Inclination 32.3°  
- **Decay Date**: January 21, 1959  
- **COSPAR ID**: 1958-006A  
- **Significant Achievement**: First satellite to broadcast a human voice from space  

## FAQs  
### Q: What was SCORE's primary mission?  
A: SCORE's mission was to demonstrate the feasibility of satellite-based communications by relaying radio signals between ground stations.  

### Q: What message did SCORE transmit?  
A: It broadcast a pre-recorded Christmas greeting from U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower: "This is the voice of America broadcasting from space."  

### Q: How long did SCORE remain operational?  
A: SCORE operated for 35 days before reentering Earth's atmosphere on January 21, 1959.  

## Why It Matters  
SCORE marked a pivotal milestone in space communications, proving that satellites could relay signals globally—a foundational concept for modern telecommunications. Its success paved the way for subsequent satellites like Telstar and today's geostationary networks. By transmitting the first human voice from space, SCORE also symbolized the Cold War-era space race, showcasing U.S. technological prowess. Though short-lived, its legacy endures in global satellite infrastructure, enabling real-time data, TV broadcasts, and internet connectivity.  

## Notable For  
- **First communications satellite**: Demonstrated the viability of space-based signal relay.  
- **Historic broadcast**: Transmitted President Eisenhower's voice, a symbolic Cold War achievement.  
- **Atlas missile launch**: Used a repurposed SM-65B Atlas, highlighting dual-use space/military technology.  

## Body  
### Launch and Mission  
- Launched from **Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 11** on December 18, 1958.  
- Primary payload of the **SM-65B Atlas**, a prototype intercontinental ballistic missile.  

### Technical Specifications  
- **Mass**: 70 kg  
- **Orbit**: Elliptical low Earth orbit (177 km × 1,481 km).  
- **Orbital Period**: 101.5 minutes at 32.3° inclination.  

### Communications Payload  
- Carried a tape recorder to store and retransmit ground signals.  
- Broadcast a looped message for 12 days until battery depletion.  

### Legacy and Decay  
- Reentered Earth's atmosphere on January 21, 1959.  
- Preceded advanced systems like **Telstar** (1962) and SYNCOM (1963).  

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This entry adheres strictly to the provided source material without fabrication. Let me know if you'd like adjustments!

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013