C4IP is recognizing John R. Pierce (1910-2002), the visionary engineer whose work on communications satellites paved the way for global connectivity.
- Pierce’s early fascination with electronics and radio waves led him from his hometown of Des Moines, Iowa, to Caltech and then to Bell Labs, where he spent over 35 years as a prolific inventor in the field of communications.
- Pierce patented his groundbreaking discoveries in satellite communication in 1955, directly enabling the launch of Telstar 1 — the first active communications satellite — in 1962.
- During his career, Pierce received over 90 patents and was awarded the National Medal of Science.
- His invention paved the way for the more than 11,000 satellites orbiting Earth today, which enable a wide range of services including telecommunications, broadcasting, and data communications.
- The commercial satellite industry is worth over $280 billion as of 2024, with U.S. firms building the vast majority of new satellites launched each year.
- The satellites Pierce pioneered play an unseen yet vital role in our daily lives: An estimated 92 million phones are equipped with satellite communications, while 30 million cars are expected to incorporate the technology by 2034.