Applications Technology Satellite
The Applications Technology Satellites were a series of experimental satellites launched by NASA, under the supervision of, among others, Wernher von Braun. The program was launched in 1966 to test the feasibility of placing a satellite into geosynchronous orbit. The satellites were primarily designed to act as communication satellites, but also carried equipment related to meteorology and navigation. ATS-6 was the world's first educational satellite as well as world's first experimental Direct Broadcast Satellite as part of the Satellite Instructional Television Experiment between NASA and ISRO.
Summary of Missions
| Mission | Launch Date | Duration | Major investigations | Notable mission highlights |
| ATS-1 | December 7, 1966 | 18 years | Spin stabilization, investigated the geostationary environment, space communications | First full-Earth cloud cover images |
| ATS-2 | April 6, 1967 | 6 months | - | Launch vehicle failure caused spacecraft to reach undesirable orbit. Limited data was obtained. |
| ATS-3 | November 5, 1967 | At least 20 years | Spin stabilization, communications tests | First color images from space. ATS-3 was also used as a communications satellite, providing links to Antarctica and the Pacific Basin |
| ATS-4 | August 10, 1968 | launch failure, mission did not occur | - | Intended for geostationary orbit. Launch vehicle failure left it in a useless LEO orbit. Little data was obtained. |
| ATS-5 | August 12, 1969 | 3 year design life | Communications tests, intended testing of an ion engine | Spacecraft entered an unintended spin and encountered excessive acceleration. This caused damage to the ion engine. |
| ATS-6 | May 30, 1974 | 5 years | Tested several communications technologies, satellite assisted search and rescue, and broadcast television. | First satellite to broadcast educational content. |