Spacecraft, Satellite, Intelsat II

In the mid- to late-1960s, the first operational communications satellites were placed into geostationary Earth orbit, vastly expanding the reach of telephone and television service across the international landscape. These satellites were developed under the auspices of the International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (Intelsat), an international treaty organization formed in 1964. Its primary purpose was to improve access to communications in developing nations, a vital part of the geopolitics of the Cold War.

From 1966-1967, four Intelsat II satellites were launched, creating the first communications network nearly global in scope, connecting millions of people in tens of nations. This new communications network played a prominent role in 1969 during the Apollo 11 moon landing, transmitting astronaut Neil Armstrong's historic first step on the lunar surface. The Intelsat II satellites enabled approximately 500 million viewers around the world to witness this iconic television moment.

This artifact is a backup spacecraft, never flown, donated by Intelsat in 2015.