So after a bit of a hiatus, I’d like to bring back the Tech History postings, but rather than it being a daily post, I’ve decided to change things up and make this a weekly installment. So, to kick things off, here are the significant technological events that happend during this week in history

Satellite Television

April 24th, 1962 marks the first time in history that TV signals were relayed by a satellite. NASA launched the satellite Echo I in August of 1960, which at the time was the largest object yet to go into space. Echo Iwas made of Mylar and coated with aluminum, and called by one newspaper at the time the “world’s largest, most visible and yet most vulnerable artificial satellite.” Due to its aluminum coating, the satellite was able to passively reflect any signals that were aimed at it. On this day in 1962, scientists at M.I.T. successfully bounced television signals sent from a lab in California and received in Massachusetts.

Steam Power takes the Wind out of the Sales

164 years ago, the first steam powered ships successfully sailed across the Atlantic Ocean, putting an end to the need for relying on the wind to power ocean vessels. On April 4th 1838, the 700-ton steamship Sirius left Cork, Ireland, and 4 days later on April 8th, the 1250-ton steamship Great Western left Bristol, England. Both had destinations of New York City. Both ships arrived successfully in New York on April 23rd, 1838, making the entire trip using only steam power.