The Rise and Fall of COMSAT - Technology, Business, and Government in Satellite Communications

After pioneering this technology and growing the market, COMSAT fell prey to changes in government policy and to its own lack of entrepreneurial talent. The author explores the factors which contributed to this rise and fall of COMSAT.

List of contents

Introduction: A Technological Camelot 1. The Communications Satellite Act of 1962 2. Creating COMSAT 3. Creating Intelsat 4. Rising to the Peak 5. Mobile Satellite Communications 6. Technology 7. DOMSATs (COMSTAR and SBS) 8. Direct Broadcast Satellites 9. The Old Guard Retires 10. Fadeout Epilog: Post-Mortem

About the author

David J. Whalen gained BA and MS degrees in Astronomy at Boston University and University of Massachusetts, USA, respectively, spent five years in the US Navy (A6A Intruder), and began a 30-year career as a communications satellite engineer. Since 2007, he has been teaching in the Department of Space Studies at the University of North Dakota, USA, where he was Chair of the Department of Space Studies from 2007 to 2010.

Summary

After pioneering this technology and growing the market, COMSAT fell prey to changes in government policy and to its own lack of entrepreneurial talent. The author explores the factors which contributed to this rise and fall of COMSAT.

Product details

• Authors: D Whalen, D. Whalen
• Publisher: Springer Palgrave Macmillan
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 01.01.2014
• EAN: 9781349484737
• ISBN: 978-1-349-48473-7
• No. of pages: 278
• Dimensions: 140 mm x 15 mm x 216 mm
• Weight: 364 g
• Illustrations: VIII, 278 p.
• Subjects: Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Physics, astronomy > Astronomy; Social sciences, law, business > Business > Economics; Management, B, Economic Policy, Leadership, Economics, Business and Management, Business Strategy/Leadership, astronomy, Astrophysics, astronautics, Innovation/Technology Management, Political Economy, business strategy, Research & development management, Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology, Cosmology, Theoretical & mathematical astronomy, Astronomy, Cosmology and Space Sciences, Industrial Management, Space Physics, Space sciences, Palgrave Business & Management Collection, business;communication;satellite