Among the more enduring daily benefits of the space age are the Earth-orbiting artificial satellites used for communications, collection of weather and climate information, and more. The first satellite to appear on a U.S. postage stamp was Echo 1, launched in August 1960. Echo 1, a large metallized balloon, inflated to 100 feet in diameter and passively reflected radio signals. Perhaps the most popular satellite stamp subject is the Hubble Space Telescope, a joint project of NASA and the European Space Agency launched in 1990.
