The Applications Technology Satellites (ATS) were a series of experimental satellites launched by NASA, under the supervision of, among others, Wernher von Braun. The program was launched in 1966 to test the feasibility of placing a satellite into geosynchronous orbit. The satellites were primarily designed to act as communication satellites, but also carried equipment related to meteorology and navigation. ATS-6 was the world's first educational satellite as well as world's first experimental Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS) as part of the Satellite Instructional Television Experiment (SITE) between NASA and ISRO. Summary of Missions See also Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite Synchronous Meteorological Satellite References External links ATS at NASA's Mission and Spacecraft Library ATS, Past NASA Missions ATS, NASA Science Missions ATS-E - Press Kit