Announced on April 20, 1971, Communications Technology Satellite (CTS) was a joint Canadian Department of Communications and United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) mission with the purpose of developing and demonstrating required technologies for high power satellite transmissions in the 12-14 GHz radio band. New developments included a high-power transmitter, high power low mass expanding deployable solar array, and 3-axis stabilization. Canada was responsible for the development of the satellite itself, while NASA provided the high power transmitter as well as the launch, and the European Space Research Organization (ESRO) which was the precursor to the European Space Agency (ESA) supplied the solar arrays as well as some other components. CTS was later renamed "Hermes" and was the first major satellite to be tested at the Canadian Space Agency's David Florida Laboratory in Ottawa.
Communications Technology Satellite was launched on a Thor Delta 2914 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida, at 23:28:00 UTC on January 17, 1976. Once in a circular geostationary orbit, the most risky part of the mission could occur with the complex deployment of the solar arrays. The satellite was de-spun, and the covers over the deployable solar array were jettisoned. The solar arrays were then rotated toward the sun to generate more than 1 kW of electrical power for the satellite.
Experiments with CTS started on January 19, 1976, with the satellite being officially commissioned and renamed Hermes in May. By mid-1978, thirty two different experimental programs had been completed or were in process, with a further seven planned. In July 1979, Hermes was moved from the 116° W orbital slot to the 142° W slot to support satellite communications testing in Australia. On November 24, 1979 Hermes was retired. Unlike most geostationary satellites, Hermes was not moved to a correct disposal orbit, and remains drifting in geostationary orbit with the jettisonable array covers to this day.
Hermes was a significant evolution for telecommunications satellites as it demonstrated critical technologies for the development of modern, high power direct broadcasting satellites. Hermes was the first satellite to operate in the super high frequency Ku band, with other satellites at the time in the C band and was the most powerful satellite in operation at the time, with broadcast power up to ten times more than previous satellites.
The records in this collection include preliminary drawings which show the different design options which were considered as well as more detailed drawings which would have been used for the manufacture of the satellite itself.
Specifications:
Height- 1.17 m
Diameter- 1.8 m
Solar Array Dimensions- 1.3 x 6.5 m
Mass- 680 kg
COSPAR Id- 1976-004A (1976-004E & 1976-004F for jettisonable solar array covers)
Period- 1436.99 min
Apogee- 35894.00 km
Perigee- 35714.00 km
Inclination- 12.59°
