Topband: "Artificial" Propagation...?

[Arthur Delibert]

Thanks John.  There's an interesting article about Project West Ford on Wikipedia, which describes the failed 1961 launch (the one I remember), and the successful 1963 launch.  Apparently, radio astronomers and others (including the Soviets, of course) protested, and the project ultimately led to a provision on international consultation in the 1967 Space Treaty. --Art Delibert, KB3FJO
 
> From: john.kaufmann at verizon.net
> To: topband at contesting.com
> Date: Sun, 11 Mar 2012 11:45:01 -0400
> Subject: Re: Topband: "Artificial" Propagation...?
> 
> 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
>  
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