3.1. On 10th July 1962, the space satellite, Telstar 1, was launched into low earth orbit for the first trials of direct
trans-Atlantic transmissions of TV signals between the USA and UK. The analogue noise problems were such that a
low noise, liquid helium cooled, first stage amplifier was mounted on the receiver aerial at Goonhilly, Cornwall,
UK. Because the aerial had to scan through 90 degrees, from vertically upwards through to the horizon, the helium
cryostat was mounted so that it tilted at 45 degrees when the aerial pointed to the horizon, and tilted 45 degrees the
other way when the aerial pointed vertically upwards. The boil-off from the tilted cryostat was phenomenal, and
consumed the total supply of liquid helium for the UK, during the 1962 summer months.