APOLLO - A satellite-based information distribution system

APOLLO (Article Procurement with On-Line Local Ordering) originates from the desire to complement on-line search and ordering of bibliographical references with an electronic delivery of the required document. Early investigations into the market and application requirements were initiated by the European Commission. It was soon concluded that only a satellite link could provide the envisaged transmission capacity, and since no practical system concept existed at that time, the Commission, Eutelsat, members of the CEPT and the European Space Agency (ESA) joined in a working group. During 1983, this group produced outline specifications for a generalised concept for electronic document delivery. At the end of 1984, the Joint Communication Programme Board of ESA approved APOLLO as a co-operative programme, in which ESA would provide the APOLLO-specific equipments and the participating PTT administrations would provide transmitting earth stations. Detailed specifications for the APOLLO system were then developed by ESA staff in close co-operation with the other participants. The major objective was to realise APOLLO as a data dissemination service with a limited number of source stations and an unlimited number of small, low-cost, receive-only earth stations. Development contracts with industry were awarded during 1985-86. Practically all equipment has already been delivered and used in satellite transmission tests. Overall system demonstrations have been successfully completed during the first half of 1989.