Jun 16 1975
From The Space Library
Western Union Telegraph Co. announced that after Westar 1 and 2 (launched 13 April 1974 and 10 Oct. 1974) began video transmission, users would save up to 66% of the cost of land-based transmissions. Rates of the new system, filed with the Federal Communications Commission, were scheduled to go into effect 14 July. The multipoint reception capability of the Westar system would attract a variety of broadcast applications, including independent networks and links to cable systems.
Savings by users of the satellite system would depend on the type of service and the route selected: Westar off peak video service between Los Angeles and New York would cost $715 for the first hour, a savings of 61% over the $1832 charged for a landline transmission. For each additional hour the Westar rate drops to $620, a reduction of 66% over landline transmissions.
Initially, cities with earth stations-New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Dallas-would receive the service, which could be extended beyond those cities via connecting carrier. (WU release, 16 June 75)
Scientists at Itek Corp. had developed a new telescope optical system that would dramatically reduce atmospheric distortion, the Baltimore Sun reported. The new system, which could improve viewing resolution 10- or 20-fold, used mirrors and a computer to cancel out distortions so that observers could get a clearer image of celestial objects. In the system, a shearing interferometer and a detector measured the amount of distortion in the light entering the lens; the computer calculated the amount of correction needed in the light to cancel out the distortion, and a special mirror that changed its shape when electric charges were applied corrected the light before the viewer saw it. Itek was manufacturing a prototype that would be tested on a working telescope in 1976. (AP, B Sun, 16 June 75, A3)
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