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STANFORD SMALL SATELLITE PROGRAM TO PRESENT PAPERS AT  AIAA/DARPA
			SATELLITE CONFERENCE

Monterey, California, August 4, 1987:

Graduate students and faculty of  the  Stanford  Small  Satellite
Program  will present three papers at the AIAA-DARPA "Lightweight
Satellite Conference",  August  4-6  at  the  Naval  Postgraduate
School,  Monterey.   The  meeting  is  intended to facilitate the
transfer of information relative to the critical technologies and
management  methods  which  will  support the development of low-
cost, lightweight satellite systems.

Graduate students Victor Aguero (AA), David Cannon  (ME),  Robert
Crigler (ME) and Burton Lee (Engineering Management) will present
"Small Satellite Ejector Mechanisms: Implications for Bus  Design
and  Passive  vs.  Active Attitutde Control" at the Satellite Bus
Design Session.  The Data Transmission Session will  hear  Victor
Aguero,  David  Lauben  (EE)  and  Karan  Ponnudurai (EE) present
"Small Satellite Communication Systems: VHF- An Alternative to S-
and  L-  band".   Both  papers summarize results of research per-
formed on contract to NASA-Ames during the past academic year.

Dr. Michael Wiskerchen, Associate  Director  of  the  Center  for
Aeronautics  and Space Information Sciences (CASIS), has been in-
vited to present "Rapid Prototyping Testbeds" before  the  Ground
and  Mission  Operations  Technologies  Session.   The major NASA
operations centers have funded CASIS to develop information tech-
nologies  aimed  at  reducing  mission costs and accelerating the
transfer of advanced applications into operational  environments.
Dr.  Wiskerchen  shall discuss implications of the CASIS coopera-
tive research/applications program for lightweight satellite mis-
sions.

The Small Satellite Program was established in late 1985 to apply
advanced  technology  and  management  methods  to new-generation
space platforms.  NASA-Ames contracted for studies of  small  sa-
tellite technology, and in particular, for the desgin of a proto-
type 120 lb. satellite called SURFER (Stanford  University  Radio
Frequency  Emissions Receiver). SURFER is intended to address the
needs of space scientists who desire a low-cost free-flying plas-
ma field measurement platform for use with Space Shuttle tethered
satellite missions.

Enthusiastic support from  graduate  students,  however,  quickly
demonstrated  the  program's  substantial value as an educational
vehicle.  To date, an estimated  80  graduate  and  undergraduate
students   have  participated  in  related  for-credit  projects,
coursework, and independent study.  Major  aerospace  contractors
have  recognized  the importance of the program by hiring several
team members.

Victor Aguero,  Program  Manager,  states  that  discussions  are
currently underway to expand the Stanford program into additional
small satellite research areas, including applications of  compo-
site materials, surface mount technology and other advanced tech-
nologies.

For further information, please contact:          
  Victor Aguero, Program Manager: (415)723-2945 or (415)723-3245
                                  E-mail: aguero@star.stanford.edu
  Burton Lee, Deputy Program Manager: (415) 723-2945