From: steve.silverwood@gmail.com   
      
   On Sat, 14 Feb 2026 09:09:57 -0800, a425couple   
    wrote:   
      
   >On 2/11/26 16:42, Steve Silverwood [KB6OJS] wrote:   
   >> On Sun, 8 Feb 2026 19:42:05 +1100, Whisper    
   >> wrote:   
   >>   
   >>> I 100% agree.  It's great to see some sensible discussion in this ng   
   >>> instead of the usual sci fi nonsense.   
   >>   
   >> Oh, my.  Where do you think scientists GET their wild ideas of things   
   >> to invent?  Case in point: lots of research is going into things like   
   >> FTL and matter-energy transferal from watching Star Trek!  Don't go   
   >> dissin' the Sci-Fi guys, they come up with some great ideas! :)   
   >   
   >   
   >Welcome Steve.  I am glad you have chosen to join us posting.   
   >   
   >Yes, Whisper refuses to accept that writers of science fiction   
   >are often very knowledgeable.  They often write of good ideas.   
   >Where would we be without the world wide communications   
   >possible by geosynchronous satellites?   
   >   
   >Arthur C. Clarke first wrote about geosynchronous satellites in   
   >a technical paper titled "Extra-Terrestrial Relays — Can Rocket Stations   
   >Give Worldwide Radio Coverage?," published in the October 1945 issue of   
   >Wireless World. He proposed using three satellites in a 36,000 km   
   >equatorial orbit to provide global communication coverage.   
   >   
   >Key details about this landmark publication include:   
   >Concept: Clarke described how artificial satellites could act as relay   
   >stations for radio and television, remaining in a fixed position   
   >relative to the Earth's surface.   
   >   
   >The "Clarke Orbit": Due to this pioneering work, the geostationary orbit   
   >is now often referred to as the Clarke Orbit or the Clarke Belt.   
   >Initial Conception: While often cited as 1945, the concept was actually   
   >outlined earlier in a memo privately circulated among the British   
   >Interplanetary Society in May 1945.   
   >   
   >Realization: While the idea was groundbreaking, the first satellite in   
   >geostationary orbit, Syncom 2, was not launched until 1963.   
      
   Wow!  Good information, I didn't know about the Clarke article.  1945   
   is a LITTLE bit before my time (born in 1958)...! :D  I will   
   definitely keep this information filed away, and if I run across a way   
   to actually GET the article I'll be sure to have it handy for future   
   discussions (and I'll share where it can be found).   
      
   --   
   //Steve//   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)