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Utah State University Conference Looks at Latest Research on Small Satellites

Posted on: Tuesday, 10 August 2004, 06:00 CDT

Aug. 10--LOGAN, Utah -- For the 18th time, hundreds of people from around the globe are flocking to Utah State University to discuss the same question: Do small satellites help or hinder the space industry?

The weeklong Conference on Small Satellites, sponsored by USU, kicked off Monday afternoon with a big-name keynote speaker and exhibits from students and many major satellite and technical companies. The conference is well-known throughout the world for its small satellite discussion and research.

The theme this year, "Small Satellites: Complementary or Disruptive Technology," zeroes in on what the more than 700 participants from the space industry have been researching for years.

"At this conference, we hope to find out what direction the small satellite industry is headed so we can focus and develop technology for those areas," said conference Chairman Pat Patterson.

Conference attendees are specifically trying to figure out if small satellites -- which can be as small as a cell phone or as large as a compact car -- can help augment larger satellite systems or completely replace conventional space missions. The smaller satellites are both cheaper to build and easier to get into space, but the industry is still struggling.

Keynote speaker Tony Tether, director of the Defense Advance Research Projects Agency (DARPA), spoke about his agency's recent return to space research. DARPA is the principal agency within the U.S. Department of Defense for research, development and demonstrations of concepts, devices and systems that provide advanced military capabilities.

"In order to actually use micro-sats, you have to get the launch cost down," Tether said, identifying the biggest hurdle for small-satellite advocates.

USU has hosted the conference since its inception in 1986 when it was started by Frank Redd, former deputy director of USU's Space Dynamic Laboratory. Redd passed away in December 2003, and the conference's scholarship competition is named after him.

Each year, engineering students submit technical papers to compete for scholarship funds from USU. An estimated $30,000 is available for competitors.

The university received a $25,000 grant earlier this summer for small- satellite research.

Technical sessions are scheduled throughout the week, with topics such as propulsion, launch update and the future of military missions. Thursday is the last day of the conference.

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