WORKSHOP OPENING STATEMENT Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome. In the interest of precision, let me read a short opening statement. It is the last time I plan to read to you. Our job at this workshop is to elucidate the probable effects of the proposed Satellite Power System on observational astronomy. Each of you invited participants is here for at least two reasons, one technical and one political. Each of you has some technical information or special expertise to contribute to our efforts. Each of you also has experience as a working scientist in one of the areas of observational astronomy which may be affected. You are here not only to contribute information and skill, but also to represent the concerns of your colleagues, to make their voices heard in the complex process of deciding what, how, and whether a Satellite Power System should be. The output of this workshop will be a report entitled Satellite Power System Effects on Optical and Radio Astronomy. This opening statement will be its preface. About a month ago each of you received a briefing document that outlined our best information on the nature and emissions of the SPS satellites and ground-based components. That document, including any corrections suggested here, will form the first major section of the report. A number of you have been asked to prepare presentations on various SPS effects and to bring with you written versions of those presentations. These will form the second major section. The remainder of the report will consist of those additional items that you contribute or develop here during the workshop. We have provided the first section and organized the second. The third is yours to write. As I have said, each of you has an axe to grind. You were chosen because you know and care about some area of observational astronomy. When we called around, asking your colleagues who should represent this or that aspect of the SPS-effects problem, yours were the names which kept cropping up. Presumably you consented to come and work here because you hope to help preserve the environment in which you do your research. To accomplish that goal, we need to answer two questions: "What will the SPS look like to an observer?" and, "What will that mean to astronomy?"
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