A science fiction writer in 1945 wrote a pretty accurate prophecy of satellite orbiting and how it would provide television and microwave coverage to the entire planet. The first satellite was sent to space over 10 years later in 1957. Until the early 70s, satellites were mainly used for telephone and television signal transmissions.
Evolution of satellite communication systems
The question is, though, did this pre-satellite writer foresee the extent to which satellite communication systems would revolutionize how we communicate with each other?
Even in the beginning of satellites it was hard to tell where things would go because the cost was high and the results were not impressive. This was because the launcher and satellite costs were high, the satellite’s lifespan was short and it had a relatively small ability to hold information.
But over the years, SatCom systems have evolved a lot. So, in 1945 it had to be a science fiction writer who foresaw SatCom systems. And even he could not tell to what extent we would become a world reliant on the quick communication that satellites provide.
But we have come to rely on it because it offers the possibility of broadcasting, a wide bandwidth and easy and rapid set up.
These factors have made satellite communication very effective.
The future of satellite communication systems
Today, in the case of applications that require a large number of antennas, despite the steep cost of launching a satellite into orbit, the savings on ground equipment often more than the launching satellites for SatCom systems.
But who would have thought that we would all come to rely on this technology so heavily? The technology has come very far and it continues to evolve. The question now is what is the future of satellite communication systems? How will we be using it in twenty years from now?
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