Barbara Selby
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.                                      
November 17, 1992
(Phone:  202/358-1983)
 
 
RELEASE:  92-206
 
ACTS CONFERENCE TO FOCUS ON COMMUNICATIONS technology


   The Advanced Communications Technology Satellite (ACTS) 
Conference '92 will focus on pioneering communications 
technology developments to provide better service, lower cost, 
greater convenience and improved reliability.

   The Nov. 18-19 conference at the Sheraton Washington Hotel, 
Washington, D.C., is co-sponsored by NASA, Comsat Laboratories, 
Harris Corp. and the MITRE Corp.

   "The ACTS Experiment Program continues NASA's long history 
of partnerships with industry in developing advanced 
technologies that create new markets and exciting commercial 
applications," said Richard dalBello of NASA's Office of 
Advanced Concepts and Technology, Washington, D.C.

   ACTS was developed to support the future high-risk 
communications needs which fall outside the sponsorship 
capability of the private sector.  ACTS is scheduled for launch 
aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery in Mid-1993.

   The conference's first day program will spotlight a panel of 
experts projecting their visions of the future development of 
telecommunications, how ACTS will contribute to that evolution 
and the significance of ACTS to the global marketplace.  

   Panel members will include representatives from Rockwell 
International Corp.; Motorola, Inc.; the National 
Telecommunications and Information Administration; the U.S. 
Army Space Command and Georgetown University.


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   Day two of the conference will feature the keynote address 
by Gregory M. Reck and Courtney A. Stadd, Acting Associate 
Administrator and Acting Deputy Associate Administrator for 
NASA's Office of Advanced Concepts and Technology.  
Participants also will attend sessions focusing on ACTS-based 
applications and technical capabilities.

                             -end-
 
   EDITORS NOTE:  News media may attend the conference free of 
charge.  Registration will begin at Noon on Nov. 18.  For 
additional information contact:  Jane Homan, NASA Lewis 
Research Center (216/433-8123).