Communications satellites: Looking to the 1980s: It will be a decade of new and exciting applications, lower costs, and more reliable service

How will satellite communications evolve in the decade 1980–1990? In answer to that question, some prognostications appear reasonably certain of fulfillment: • The INTELSAT global communications system will continue to grow, providing existing services at lower cost and introducing new services. • Domestic and regional systems will continue to expand. • The Space Transportation System will have a major impact. • Technological advances will allow systems with complexity and capability probably an order of magnitude greater than present-day systems. • Applications will expand from classical point-to-point telephony and broadcast into many new areas.