Barbara E. Selby
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.                                            
October 8, 1991
(Phone:  703/557-5609)


RELEASE:  91-166

NASA SELECTS TWO NEW CCDSs; ONE DISCONTINUED


      The National Aeronautics and Space Administration today 
announced the selection of two additional Centers for the 
Commercial Development of Space (CCDS).  The new centers will 
specialize in the commercialization of advanced satellite 
communications technologies and other space-based 
telecommunications technologies.

      The centers selected under this fourth solicitation in the 
agency's CCDS program are the Center for the Commercial 
Development of Space in Satellite and Hybrid Communication 
Networks, University of Maryland Systems Research Center, College 
Park, and the Space Communications Technology Center, Florida 
Atlantic University Research Corp., Boca Raton.

      A key element in NASA's initiative to support the expanded 
commercial use of space, CCDSs are innovative research 
institutions funded through cooperative partnerships of industry, 
academia and government.  NASA's Office of Commercial Programs 
manages the grant program and provides annual funding up to $1 
million to each center for an initial 5-years which may be 
extended.  The CCDSs also receive support from corporate and 
university affiliates.

      Ten proposals were received in response to the agency's 
solicitation of focused satellite communications CCDSs that would 
enhance the utilization and technical spinoffs of the Advanced 
Communications Technology Satellite, scheduled to be deployed 
from the Space Shuttle in April 1993.

      In an unrelated action, NASA and Vanderbilt University, 
Nashville, Tenn., mutually have agreed to discontinue the 
institution's Center for Space Processing of Engineering 
Materials.  Because of a decline in research by large metals 
fabricators and producers, the center has been unable to generate 
the level of corporate support to meet the space agency's 
requirements for cash contributions by industry members.
                            - more -
                             - 2 -

      The two actions bring the total number of CCDSs to 17.  In 
addition to advanced communications, the current nationwide 
network of CCDSs specialize in seven other research disciplines:  
materials processing in space (4), life sciences (3), remote 
sensing (2), automation and robotics (2), space power (2), space 
propulsion (1), and space structures and materials (1).
                                     
                             -end-