Courier 1B

Courier 1B is an American communications satellite.

It was the first active ( relay station ) communications satellite ever. It was operated by the U.S. Air Force and launched from Cape Canaveral AFS Launch Complex 17 on 4 October 1960. The 230 kg satellite from the ground station could record and send later in the store-and -dump process messages. After 17 days, the satellite stopped responding to commands. It is assumed that the receiver is no longer synchronized correctly.