lyang%scherzo@Sun.COM (Larry Yang) (08/05/87)
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