Richardson in Dallas County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Collins Radio Echo 1 Project

Photographed by Morgan Petermann, September 3, 2024

1. Collins Radio Echo 1 Project Marker

Inscription. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) invited radio companies to conduct experiments with Echo 1 (it's first communications satellite). When Echo successfully launched on August 12, 1960, Alpha Corporation (a subsidiary of Collins Radio Company) was ready. At 3:04 A.M on August 13, a message was transmitted using Echo from Richardson, Texas, to Cedar Rapids, Iowa. They soon received a reply, marking the first successful two-way radio voice transmission via satellite. At 12:48 A.M. on August 19, the first photograph via satellite was received in Richardson from Cedar Rapids. By being the first to transmit voice, photographs and later teletype, Collins helped lay the foundation for later technological breakthroughs.

Erected 2021 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 23302.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Science & Medicine. A significant historical date for this entry is August 13, 1960.

Location. 32° 57.618′ N, 96° 42.664′ W. Marker is in Richardson, Texas, in Dallas County. It is on East Arapaho Road west of International Parkway, on the left when

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traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 830 E Arapaho Rd, Richardson TX 75081, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Prairies & Lakes Region

and in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metropolitan Area.

Globally, it is in 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 Republic of Texas,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Blewett Cemetery (approx. half a mile away); First Baptist Church of Richardson (approx. 0.9 miles away); First Presbyterian Church of Richardson (approx. 1.1 miles away); Richardson (approx. 1.1 miles away); Hill-Robberson House (approx. 1.2 miles away); First United Methodist Church Richardson (approx. 1.3 miles away); Wheeler School (approx. 1.6 miles away); McKamy Spring (approx. 1.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Richardson.

Photographed by Morgan Petermann, September 3, 2024

2. Collins Radio Echo 1 Project Marker

Photographed by Jeff Leichsenring, October 20, 2024

3. Collins Radio Echo 1 Project Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on October 21, 2024. It was originally submitted on September 4, 2024, by Morgan Petermann of Hurst, Texas. This page has been viewed 967 times since then and 127 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 4, 2024, by Morgan Petermann of Hurst, Texas. 3. submitted on October 20, 2024, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.