Editing Communications Technology Satellite (section)

== Satellite ==
The satellite was meant to test the practical aspects of a high powered satellite using large antennas beaming television signals directly to homes equipped with small antennas, and two-way communications with mobile stations.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Rapp|first1=William|last2=Ogden|first2=Dail|last3=Wright|first3=Denis|date=December 1982|title=An overview of the Communications Technology Satellite (CTS) project|url=https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19830007074|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-10-11|website=NASA|language=en}}</ref> When it was launched it was the most powerful communications satellite in existence.

This [[Spacecraft attitude control|three-axis stabilized]] satellite was designed as a test vehicle to carry communications-related equipment. The purpose of its launch into an equatorial, Earth-synchronous orbit was:<ref name="Display"/>
* to demonstrate new technology,
* to conduct communications technological experiments,
* to develop new communications methodology in conjunction with ground-based components.

The spacecraft was a short (1.17-m) right cylinder (1.8-m diameter) with two parallel (1.72-m apart) plane surfaces symmetrically truncating the curved surface. These plane surfaces were also parallel to the cylinder axis. Relatively long, narrow (1.3- by 6.5-m) solar arrays were extendable from mechanisms mounted on the parallel plane sides.<ref name="Display">{{cite web |url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1976-004A|title=Display: Hermes 1976-004A|date=14 May 2020|access-date=21 June 2020}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>