Intelsat 1, Telecom Relay for Apollo 11, Will Join New Spacecraft Exhibit in 2025

Intelsat will donate a piece of its company history to the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC.

The unit, Intelsat 1, was the backup for the the first commercial communications satellite in geosynchronous orbit. Its twin was successfully launched on April 6, 1965. With its elder sibling safely in orbit, the understudy was left to be put on display at the company's US headquarters. The piece of history is credited with carrying the broadcast of the Apollo 11 moon landing to viewers around the world, as well as doubling the number of telephone lines connecting the continents, as well as providing a spectrum of telecoms and broadcasting services throughout its service life.

While in service, the "Early Bird" provided the first live satellite broadcast, including the premier of the Beatles' "All You Need is Love". The piece will be restored and prepared for exhibition at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia, to be moved to the new Washington DC spacecraft exhibition set to open in 2025.

“This historic satellite’s new home commemorates its role in some of the most profound moments in human space exploration and global connectivity. Allowing people to witness the moon landing live inspired a generation of space explorers and enthusiasts. This reminder of Intelsat’s integral part in driving humanity forward only underscores how far Intelsat has come today and will continue to go in connecting our world,” said Intelsat CEO Stephen Spengler.

“We are excited to collect the ground spare of the first commercial communications satellite to be placed in geosynchronous orbit,” said Jim David, curator at the National Air and Space Museum. “The Intelsat 1 satellite will be featured among iconic artifacts like the Hubble space telescope and Skylab in a new exhibition opening in 2025.”

FMI: www.intelsat.com