IEEE History Center: Sajjad H. Durrani Abstract

Sajjad H. Durrani Interview (20 August 1999)

Durrani got his engineering degree in Lahore in 1949, his masters in the UK in transmission system analys in 1952, and his PhD from the University of New Mexico.  He switched from an early interest to power transmission to space communications.  He taught engineering in Pakistan in the 1950s, and in America in the 1960s worked at the RCA Space Center.  He worked at NASA 1974-92, alternating his time at NASA between the HQ and Goddard.  His career includes work on the Advanced Communication Technology Satellite, the Orbiting Data Relay Network, work as planning manager for the ground systems of the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite, INTELSAT and COMSAT, planning a broadcasting satellite system, system analysis and planning at NASA, Research and Planning Manager of NASCOM division within Goddard, and program manager in the Advanced Systems Office, of the Office of Space Communications.  After his retirement he worked for Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC) as a consulting engineer on their contracts with Goddard.  He has also recently worked for the UN Development Program in Pakistan, helping the Pakistani space program.  He has been involved with the IEEE and the AESS for several decades, with particular interest in education issues—continuing education for engineers and engineering education in the high and middle schools.  He discusses major tends and events in space communications history.