Broadcast 1192 (Special Edition)

Guests: Dr. Pat Patterson and Dr. Douglas Lemon. Topics: SmallSat Conference, Space Dynamics Lab, academic outreach for satellites, commercial satellite programs. Dr. Pat Patterson returned to The Space Show with the new Director of the Space Dynamics Lab (SDL) at Utah State University, Dr. Douglas Lemon, to discuss the upcoming SmallSat Conference in Logan, Utah from August 10-13, 2009. Our guests took us through the jammed packed agenda for this year's SmallSat Conference, they explained the student scholarship awards programs and papers, and we talked at length about the SDL and several of its existing and new programs. The theme for this year's conference is Element of New Space Systems and you will hear how the conference addresses this theme and integrates the subject into small satellites, advanced technology, and much more. As this conference is now 23 years old, we also took a glimpse through history with our guests to see what was going on with small satellites and the fledgling industry when the first SmallSat Conference was held. Listen to what the conference was like back then with the 100 or so attending and compare and contrast that to what the conference will be like this year. Our guests elaborated on the important social and networking aspects of the conference, and the company dinners/parties that they host. Dr. Patterson let us know about the keynote conference speaker, Lt. General Kevin T. Campbell, Commanding General USDASMDC/ARSTRAT. Dr. Lemon talked in detail about the SDL, explained its relationship to Utah State and the conference, the student employees, and the new program with the University of Arizona in Tucson. You can find out more information about the SDL by visiting www.sdl.usu.edu/index-noflash.html. Listeners asked several questions including asking for the definition of a small satellite as well as a cubesat. Listen to their definitions as definitions for all sizes of satellites. Pat talked about the online registration, hotel space in Logan, and the different conference rates for those attending, including students and those coming just for a day. You can find out all you want about the conference, the daily agenda, the side programs both before and after the main conference, all by visiting www.smallsat.org. If you have comments or questions for our two guests, please send them to me at drspace@thespaceshow.com. Conference questions can be directed through the website to the contacts page at http://www.smallsat.org/contact-info.