Opening Session

This session will address the ad hoc Satellite Industry Task Force (SITF) technical challenges and NASA's response to them.

The ad hoc Satellite Industry Task Force consisting of satellite communications industry representatives, academia and government observers came together in late 1994 to address the role of satellites in the emerging national and global information infrastructure. On July 31, 1996 the SITF presented its findings to Mr. Daniel Goldin, NASA Administrator, and Dr. Kaminski, then Deputy under Secretary for Defense for acquisition, high ranking government executives and industry executives.

In this opening session, Mr. Sam Venneri, NASA Chief Technologist, and other NASA executives will outline NASA's response to several of SITF's technical findings. Dr. Thomas Brackey, Director of Operations with Hughes Communication, and Dr. Prakash Chitre, COMSAT's Vice President of Technology will provide industry's perspective on these interoperability issues.