The Anik A satellites represent the first generation of a series of synchronous orbit communications satellites developed by Hughes Aircraft Company for individual nations to use within their territorial boundaries. Three Anik A satellites were built for Telesat Canada, a corporation created by the Canadian Parliament to establish and operate a domestic satellite communications system within Canada. Anik A became the world's first national domestic satellite. Anik A-1 was launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on 9 November 1972. The second Anik was launched 20 April 1973, and the last was launched 7 May 1975. The Anik A satellites were part of the Hughes 333 generation of communications satellites, the forerunner of the popular Boeing 376 satellite line now in use around the world. Each Anik A was equipped with 12 transponders and had a capacity of 7000 telephone circuits or 12 color television channels. In October 2000, the Hughes satellite unit became Boeing Satellite Systems, Inc.