Operation Moon Bounce
Another one from the Air and Space Museum. Using the Moon as a Communications Satellite The U.S. Navy's Operation Moon Bounce beamed radio signals to the Moon that bounced back to another location on Earth. This system made it easier for the military to send long-distance messages during the Cold War. This lighted globe helped radio operators see which half of the Earth was facing the Moon— showing when and where moon-bounce messages could be sent.