When insurance agents set up business on the moon, Fireman’s Fund will be there to serve them. And with a complete line of lunar coverages, at that.

Which may not be as far-fetched as it sounds.

Throughout its 99-year history, The Fund has led the way in many insurance developments, and the use of outer space in that connection is not overlooked. Right now, for instance, The Fund, through its progressive and versatile Inland Marine Department, is participating in insurance on the Bell System’s experimental communication satellites, including "Telstar." Telstar is expected to be launched this month, and a follow-up launching is slated for next fall.

The Fund’s substantial participation in this $3,150,000 risk, through its New York office, covers loss to truck vans, electronic equipment and satellites while in transit between Hillside, Whippany and Murray Hill, N.J., and while in transit to Cape Canaveral, Fla.; while in Cape Canaveral and including movement of satellite from vans to launching pad and thence until laden on the elevator of the gantry crane. The satellites, valued at $900,000 each, were scheduled to be shipped via leased or owned trucks of Bell Telephone Laboratories, especially equipped for the handling of these satellites.

The insurance was requested by Bell Telephone Laboratories, Inc., which was responsible for the design, construction and experimental operation of the satellites and ground stations, with the actual launching undertaken by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Telstar is roughly spherical in shape, but with 72 flat faces or facets. It is 34 1/2 inches in diameter and weighs about 170 pounds. Solar cells are mounted on most of the facets. On one or more facets is a mirror that reflects sunlight to ground observers for short periods and thus provides information on the position of the satellite in space.

The satellite’s sun-powered microwave receiver and transmitter will perform important functions. While whirling across the sky, Telstar will pick up signals from earth, amplify them and beam them back down. Telstar is expected to be the world’s first "active" communications satellite, as opposed to "passive" satellites like the former Echo balloon.

Echo, you’ll recall, acted like a mirror – it merely reflected signals. It couldn’t handle a heavy volume of calls, which, at the time of this writing, was intended with Telstar.

This year, more sophisticated satellites go into orbit, led by Telstar. The mass of electronic gear crammed into Telstar’s innards will do much more than relay television, telephone calls and data. It will report on 115 items, including such things as radiation in space and the functioning of the equipment. It will turn power on and off in response to command signals from earth. After two years, it will cut off the radio beacon used for tracking so that frequency can be used for other purposes.

It must be remembered that this article is being written, of necessity, prior to the original date set for the launching. If the date holds, and if all goes well, history will soon be made. In any event, Fireman’s Fund also is participating in insurance on equipment for the second scheduled shoot. As for the Fireman’s Fund insurance on the Telstar, the coverage is against virtually all risks of physical loss or damage from any external cause.

Naturally, The Fund is watching the launch operations with utmost interest and remains alert to other outer space opportunities. Confidentially, though, no date has yet been set for opening that office on the moon!

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