Experiments

Program Overview

Piechart representing percentages of participation. Government 27%, Industry 48%, and University 25%. The experiments program began December 6, 1993. It was designed to provide access to new space-based telecommunication technologies that will be widely used in the 21st century. ACTS experimenters designed, funded, and conducted their own investigations. NASA allocated spacecraft time, managed operations, and assisted investigators in developing a final experiment plan. This partnership brought the capabilities of this unique national resource to regional telecommunications users.

The goals of the program reflected national priorities in advancing technology development and promoting U.S. competitiveness in international markets. The program conducted technology verification experiments to prove the high-risk technology, and networking experiments to evaluate the potential applications of the technology.

Experiments were selected that met the project's goals and challenged the ACTS system. The results of these investigations yielded numerous benefits to business, health care, education, national defense, and emergency/disaster relief and the advancement of technology in high data rate communications.

After 81 months, at the program's conclusion on May 31, 2000, 104 experiments were conducted by 61 unique principal investigator organizations. Over 80 demonstrations were also conducted.

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