On May 8–9, 1986, the National Space Science Data Center (NSSDC) in Greenbelt, Md., hosted the spring meeting of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Data Systems Users Working Group (DSUWG). Most of the attention of the plenary sessions focused on the Space Physics Analysis Network (SPAN) move to a new configuration in summer 1986 (see sidebar), which builds upon NASA's Program Support Communication Network (PSCN). DSUWG considered the new SPAN project management plan and also heard presentations concerning several other scientific and academic computer networks to which SPAN will be connected.
As discussed in the accompanying article concerning SPAN, the network is moving toward a new configuration. Dave Peters (Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC), Huntsville, Ala.) discussed SPAN's use of and relationship to the PSCN. As part of its deliberations, DSUWG approved the new SPAN physical configuration and the new SPAN management plan.