#OTD in 1962 Telstar 1 was launched. Funded by American, British and French telecom companies, Telstar 1 was the first privately funded space launch. It successfully relayed through space the first television pictures, telephone calls and provided the first live transatlantic television feed. To work, the satellite needed huge ground antennas that could weigh up to 400 tons. Though no longer functional, Telestar 1 still orbits the earth. A model of the satellite also orbits over the head of gues