Echo-1 Balloon Satellite

Echo 1 sits fully inflated at a Navy hangar in Weeksville, North Carolina. The spacecraft measured 100 feet across when deployed, and was nicknamed a 'satelloon' by those involved in the project.

Echo 1 was launched August 12, 1960, into an orbit with an Apogee of 1684 km, a Perigee of 1523 km and an Inclination of 47.2 degrees. The mylar film balloon acted as a passive communications reflector for transcontinental and intercontinental telephone (voice), radio and television signals. Echo 1 re-entered the atmosphere May 24, 1968.

Source: http://history.nasa.gov/SP-4308/ch6.htm

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