Selected aspects and results of an interdisciplinary research and education program to examine the potential and problems associated with the use of communication satellites to help meet educational needs in the United States are summarized. The progress of the program to date in four major areas is described: needs analysis, communications technology studies, systems synthesis, and the educational impact of the program on Washington University. In the area of needs analysis, some of the problems facing education, such as educational costs and equality of opportunity, and some of the available communications media and educational technology have been assessed. Several studies of communications technologies are being carried out in such fields as satellite and terrestrial communication techniques, still-picture television distribution, and Gunn-effect wideband Ku-band amplification. Progress has been made toward identifying and structuring a small number of alternative systems which could provide educational satellite services in the near future. Two of the results of the program at Washington University have been the creation of a new master's degree program in technology and human affairs and the increased interaction of faculty members, professional staff members, and students from a wide variety of backgrounds. (JY)