Launching of the Telstar Satellite

The Telstar satellite was launched on July 10, 1962, from Cape Canaveral by a Delta launch vehicle. The pre-launch and launch operations were carried out jointly by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and Bell Telephone Laboratories. NASA had responsibility for procurement, checkout, and launch of the Delta vehicle and for mating of the Telstar spacecraft with the launch vehicle. Bell Telephone laboratories was responsible for delivery, checkout and monitoring of the spacecraft, and observed and participated in the launch vehicle preparation and spacecraft-to-vehicle mating operation. Bell Telephone laboratories provided radio command guidance for the Telstar launch, as for all Delta launches. At Cape Canaveral the principal test locations for the Telstar launch operations are : (1) Launch Complex 17, consisting of two launch pads, 17A and 17B, and supporting facilities; the Telstar satellite was launched from 17B. (2) Guided Missile Control Facility No. 3, the laboratories-operated command guidance ground station; Telstar launch operations facilities were located here. (3) Spin Test Building, operated by Douglas Aircraft Company for NASA; here, the Telstar spacecraft was mated to the Delta third-stage motor and the combination was spin-balanced prior to installation on the launch vehicle.