It’s a technological miracle we rarely stop to consider—a signal sent thousands of kilometers across the globe in a matter of seconds, so that millions of people can watch a game-winning play or breaking news. This program shows how 21st-century communications satellites are designed and constructed. Going inside Astrium, a high-profile aerospace engineering firm, the film illustrates the development of satellite payloads and the assembly of precision equipment that will boost broadband, HDTV, and mobile communications around the planet. Viewers learn about work taking place in bunkers and “clean rooms” across Europe, producing components that enable orbital and interstellar flight, withstand burning heat and icy cold, and function flawlessly for up to 20 years. Produced by the Open University. Part of the series How to Build…(Series 2) (60 minutes)