Topband: "Artificial" Propagation...?

[John Kaufmann]

Some of you may be thinking of "Project West Ford", conducted in the early
1960's by MIT Lincoln Laboratory (where I work now).   Many millions of tiny
"needles" were launched into orbit to generate an artificial scattering
medium above the earth for long range microwave communications. You must
remember that this was at a time when there were no communications
satellites or long-haul fiberoptic networks, which we take for granted
today.

Technically the project was a success as it demonstrated microwave links
from the east coast to west coast.  However, it required very large ground
terminals with very high transmitter power.  Eventually interest in the
concept died after the first communications satellites were deployed.  Most
of the needles eventually re-entered the atmosphere and disappeared,
although I understand a few still remain in orbit. 

See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_West_Ford and
http://www.damninteresting.com/earths-artificial-ring-project-west-ford/ for
more information.

73, John W1FV

-----Original Message-----
From: topband-bounces at contesting.com [mailto:topband-bounces at contesting.com]
On Behalf Of Arthur Delibert
Sent: Sunday, March 11, 2012 7:59 AM
To: n7rt at cox.net; k9la at frontier.com; topband at contesting.com
Subject: Re: Topband: "Artificial" Propagation...?


As I remember the earlier project, it was an effort in the early or mid
1960s to create perpetual worldwide twilight by shooting millions of tiny
copper needles into the upper atmosphere.   I remember reading at the time
that they became magnetized and stuck together for that reason.  In any
event, instead of dispersing, they orbitted for awhile as a large clump.
--Art Delibert, KB3FJO
 
 ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK