The Applications Technology Satellite (ATS) program was established by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to flight test experimental payloads and investigate the space environment with the aim of developing technology of practical future benefit. Five flight spacecraft of three configurations were built by Hughes from 1966 to 1969. In October 2000, Hughes became Boeing Satellite Systems, Inc. The satellites were designed as basic buses capable of carrying a variety of scientific payloads. A score of experiments were flown to conduct investigations in the fields of space and communications, satellite stabilization, meteorology, and the orbital environment.