Merritt Island in Brevard County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Global Television Arrives
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
Photographed by Brandon D Cross, June 24, 2021
1. Global Television Arrives Marker
In 1960, the first live television signal to cross an ocean created an instant sensation and spawned a communication revolution. The signal bounced off a huge Mylar balloon we called Echo, which was launched into orbit by a Delta rocket in August 1960.
Just two years later another Delta rocket launched Telstar the first telecommunications satellite into orbit. Telstar could receive, amplify and transmit intercontinental television signals in real time. Suddenly, world events were unfolding right before our eyes on a small box in our own living rooms.
Erected by Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Communications. A significant historical month for this entry is August 1960.
Location. 28° 31.406′ N, 80° 40.99′ W. Marker is on Merritt Island, Florida, in Brevard County. It can be reached from the intersection of Nasa Parkway West, on the left when traveling east. Located within the Rocket Garden exhibit at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 405 Nasa Pkwy W, Merritt Island
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in Florida’s Space Coast. It is also in the American South. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Chasing the Russian Bear (here, next to this marker); The Sun Rides a Workhorse (a few steps from this marker); 1957: Cold War Cooperation (a few steps from this marker); Learning to Drive (a few steps from this marker); Learning to Phone Home (a few steps from this marker); Saturn V (a few steps from this marker); Getting History Off the Ground (a few steps from this marker); Shooting the Moon, Dreaming of Stars (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Merritt Island.
Also see . . .
1. Telstar satellite. Wikipedia
Photographed by Brandon D Cross, June 24, 2021
2. Global Television Arrives Marker
2. Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Website homepage (Submitted on July 4, 2021, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)
Photographed by Nasa
3. Launch of the Telstar 1 satellite
Thor/Delta launches with the Telstar 1 satellite from Cape Canaveral Air Force Stations Space Launch Complex 17B, July 10, 1962.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 9, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 4, 2021, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 290 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 4, 2021, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
