Communications Satellite Corporation

Communications Satellite Corporation (COMSAT), private corporation established by act of Congress in 1962, to develop satellite systems for relaying telephone, telegraph, and television transmissions. Comsat is the U.S. member and general manager of the International Telecommunications Satellite Consortium (Intelstat), formed in 1964 under the auspices of the United Nations. Comsat's first satellite, Early Bird, also known as Intelstat I, was launched in 1965.