1966: The first of five Applications Technology Satellites (ATS-1), carrying 15 communications, technology, and scientific experiments, launched at Cape Kennedy. On 9 December, ATS-1 took the world’s first high-quality photos of the earth from geosynchronous orbit altitudes. The satellite was in a fixed position over the western hemisphere. The pictures allowed meteorologists to see changes in cloud cover over the same area, making identifying and tracking storms easier.
