How a NASA Satellite Helped Japan and Forever Changed Sports History

In ‘This Week in History,’ one of America’s most famous agencies gave satellite access to an old foe and new ally, and changed the Olympics.

An artist's vision of a Syncom satellite (L), which allowed a global audience for the Tokyo 1964 Olympics. Yoshinori Sakai (R), running toward the Olympic cauldron. Public Domain

“Whereas the Allied Powers and Japan are resolved that henceforth their relations shall be those of nations which, as sovereign equals, cooperate in friendly association to promote their common welfare and to maintain international peace and security, and are therefore desirous of concluding a Treaty of Peace which will settle questions still outstanding as a result of the existence of a state of war between them.”

This is the preamble of the 1951 Treaty of Peace with Japan, also known as the San Francisco Treaty. The treaty was signed by 48 nations and, with that signing, paved the way for acceptance of Japan into the United Nations (U.N.). Its inclusion into the U.N., and the influence of the U.N., had little if any impact on treaty negotiations with the country.

Dulles and the Japan Treaty

U.S. Secretary of State Dean Acheson signing the San Francisco Treaty, Sept. 8, 1951. Public Domain

After World War II, Japan was occupied by the Allied Powers, primarily the Americans. Sole authority had been given to the Supreme Allied Commander Gen. Douglas MacArthur. At first, the objective in Japan was democratization; but by 1947, with economic issues and the spread of communism, it became clear that the Americans needed to “reverse course.” The Americans pivoted from democratization to economic recovery.

John Foster Dulles, who had already enjoyed a successful diplomatic career, was appointed on July 7, 1949, to a brief stint in the Senate after New York Senator Robert Wagner resigned for health concerns. After losing a reelection bid on Nov. 8, 1949, Dulles was soon appointed as a consultant to Secretary of State Dean Acheson, who sent him to Japan to negotiate a peace treaty and end the American occupation.

Senator John Foster Dulles in November 1949. Public Domain

“In my opinion, Mr. Dulles’ greatest contribution to American diplomacy was the Japanese peace treaty which he negotiated, not solely by himself, but he was the master hand of the whole thing,” recalled Richard Finn, who served in the political advisor’s office in Tokyo.

“Dulles had gotten a draft by February 1951 that the Japanese had happily accepted. The Allies hadn’t even seen it. This was a very curious way to run the negotiation of a treaty—to get it through your enemy first and then go tell your friends what you have agreed to. … But it was America’s show, we ran it our way, and they knew we were in charge. I think we were prepared to go and sign a treaty with Japan alone if that should be required.”

Part of the negotiations included the renunciation of its sovereignty over other nations it had conquered, which included Taiwan, Korea, Manchuria, and the Kuril Islands. In return, Japan would regain its own sovereignty, and end the occupation. The treaty officially went into force on April 28, 1952. Japan was again a sovereign nation.

NASA Launches

In America, President Harry S. Truman was struggling politically. The Korean War had greatly reduced his popularity, especially after firing MacArthur on April 11, 1951. About six months after the San Francisco Treaty went into force, Truman was defeated by Dwight D. Eisenhower in the 1952 election. One of Eisenhower’s campaign promises was to end the war in Korea, which was accomplished by the summer of 1953.

Eisenhower also nominated Dulles, the negotiator of the treaty with Japan, to be his secretary of state. Dulles maintained that position until 1959, resigning shortly before dying of colon cancer.

Among the many major bills Eisenhower signed into law was the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958, which established the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). NASA was instituted to accomplish numerous objectives, such as “the expansion of human knowledge of phenomena in the atmosphere and space … [and] the improvement of the usefulness, performance, speed, safety, and efficiency of aeronautical and space vehicles.”

NASA defined “aeronautical and space vehicles” as “aircraft, missiles, satellites, and other space vehicles, manned and unmanned, together with related equipment, devices, components, and parts.”

The United States had successfully launched its first satellite, Explorer 1, into orbit a few months before the signing of the Space Act (its first attempt, Vanguard TV3, was a failure). It was a quick response to the Soviet Union’s satellite, Sputnik, launched in October 1957. NASA became hyper-focused on the international space race.

Japan Wants to Host

In the summer of 1952, only a few months after the San Francisco Treaty became official, Japan returned to the Olympic Games in Helsinki. It had not been invited to the 1948 Games in London. Once again a sovereign nation and relishing its participation in the Olympics, Japan submitted its bid to host the 1960 Olympics. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) made their decision in June 1955. Rome would host. Tokyo had finished last in the first round of voting, garnering only four votes.

Two months before the IOC voted, Avery Brundage, president of the IOC, visited Tokyo to inspect the city’s conditions as a possible host.

“As staging the Games in Tokyo following the 16th Olympics in Melbourne, Australia, would be prohibitively expensive for teams from Europe, there is little chance of Tokyo being selected this time,” Brundage stated. “Tokyo should aim for the 18th Olympic Games.”

Indeed, the Japanese did aim for the 1964 Games, and their aim was true. Tokyo was selected by the IOC in May 1959, securing 34 of the first round 56 votes.

Launching Syncom

Between the years of 1958 and 1964, the United States and the Soviet Union launched 52 lunar and planetary exploratory missions (21 of which were American). Toward the end of this period, the Americans launched two communication satellites created to remain in geosynchronous orbit—appearing to “remain above Earth at a constant longitude, although it may seem to wander north and south.” These satellites were called Syncom 1 and 2.

Syncom 1 was launched from Cape Canaveral on Feb. 14, 1963, to reach “an inclination of about 30 degrees over the Atlantic Ocean.” Although initial communication tests with the satellite, conducted via the USNS Kingsport located off the coast of Nigeria, were successful, about five hours after launch “all contact was lost.”

About six months later, on July 26, Syncom 2 was launched from Cape Canaveral into orbit along the Equator near the Atlantic Ocean and Brazil (at 55 degrees longitude). By mid-August, NASA was able to successfully test Syncom 2’s voice, teletype, facsimile, and data transmissions. It was during this week in history, on Aug. 23, 1963, that President John F. Kennedy made a phone call via the communications satellite to the prime minister of Nigeria, Sir Abubakar Rafawa Balewa.

NASA planned to launch Syncom 3 the following summer along the equator at 180 degrees longitude—over the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

Prime Minister Balewa (2nd from R) talks to President John F. Kennedy on the first live broadcast via the Syncom 2 satellite from USNS Kingsport in Lagos, Nigeria. Public Domain

It was during this week in history as well, on Aug. 19, 1964, that NASA successfully launched the geostationary Syncom 3 from Cape Kennedy (the name changed to Cape Kennedy a few days after the assassination of the president; the name was changed back to Cape Canaveral in 1973). The satellite communications of Syncom 2 and Syncom 3 were handed over to the Department of Defense on Jan. 1, 1965.

Before being handed over, though, NASA and Syncom 3 would make a significant contribution to the history of the Olympic Games.

Getting a Signal

When Tokyo was tabbed to host the 1964 Olympic Games in 1959, it began a massive overhaul of the city. This included building the now famous Metropolitan Expressway, the Tokyo Monorail, and the Shinkansen “bullet” train. For the Games, it had constructed, among other buildings, its memorable Yoyogi National Stadium with its modern architectural design.

Yoyogi National Gymnasium, designed by Kenzo Tange. Arne Müseler/CC BY-SA 3.0 de

The Japanese hoped that the Olympics in Tokyo would give the country a chance to rebrand itself to the world. With the development of Syncom 3, it got a chance like never before.

The Japanese government took notice of Syncom 2’s capabilities in 1963 and, planning ahead, asked if the satellite was capable of transmitting television signals. If it could, they hoped to use the satellite to broadcast the Olympics in real time. The American government acquiesced to the request.

Near Tokyo, the Japan Broadcasting Corporation built a site to transmit its television signals, while the United States Navy adjusted its Point Mugu naval base communication facility to receive the signals. NASA moved Syncom 2 from its Atlantic Ocean location to the Pacific Ocean, where Syncom 3 would soon be. The tests were successful.

From Oct. 10 to 24, and for the first time in Olympics sports history (and most certainly not the last time), the Olympic Games were televised. According to the IOC, a third of the global population witnessed the Olympic Games on television thanks to NASA’s communications satellite. Furthermore, it helped an old foe and new ally present itself to the world in a new light.

“Tokyo 1964 was a resounding success for Japan,” noted the IOC, “both in terms of renewing international relations in the aftermath of World War II, and creating a new global perception of the country as a peaceful, democratic and technologically advanced nation.”

Never miss a This Week in History story! Sign up for the American History newsletter here.

What arts and culture topics would you like us to cover? Please email ideas or feedback to [email protected]