Syncom 2 Satellite Photography

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Portraying the excitement of the American public in 1963, photographer Jim Dell captures a child dressed in a cowboy costume looking up at the first geosynchronous satellite in orbit, Syncom 2.

Meredith K. Eick, after serving as a Navy Aviation Electronic Technician Mate 3rd Class in World War II and obtaining a master's in electrical engineering from the University of Minnesota, moved to California in 1955 and began a 35-year career at Hughes Aircraft Company as an electrical engineer and a chief scientist. As part of the Space and Communications Group, Eick worked with Dr. Harold Rosen, Donald Williams, and Tom Hudspeth contributing to many satellites including Syncom 2. Syncom, also known as Synchronous Communication Satellite, began in 1961 as a National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) program. With development and manufacturing completed by Hughes Aircraft Company, Syncom 2 launched on July 26, 1963, becoming the first geosynchronous satellite in orbit. It enabled live two-way voice and teletype communication between continents and demonstrated its potential for worldwide connectivity. As a revolutionary advancement in global communication, the satellite captivated public interest and gained media attention. For publicity in 1963, photographer Jim Dell captured this time of excitement and wonder by photographing Syncom 2 with Kevin Eick, son of Meredith K. Eick, dressed in a cowboy costume.

Identifier

NASM.2025.0011

Date

1963

Provenance

Kevin Eick, Gift, 2025, NASM.2025.0011

Extent

.01 Cubic feet

Archival Repository

National Air and Space Museum Archives

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of three prints taken in April 1963 by photographer Jim Dell showing a child, Kevin Eick, on the ground looking up at the Syncom 2 satellite hanging on a crane at the parking lot of Hughes Aircraft in Culver City, California. There are two unique images while the third print is a larger duplicate copy. Two photographs are 11 x 14 inches, and the last one is 8.5 x 11 inches.

Arrangement note

Itemized.

Rights

Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests.

Restrictions

No restrictions on access

Citation

Syncom 2 Satellite Photography, NASM.2025.0011, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.

Topics

Astronautics

Type

Collection descriptions
Archival materials

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