"Micropolis, the building set that never stops growing," read the Mego catalog. There were 5 different Micropolis building sets released and the Satellite Survey Station, or SSS, was one of them. Released in 1978 as a Montgomery Wards catalog item, the box was slightly different than the other building set boxes. The IPHQ, GCC, etc…had removable box tops, while the SSS was a 1 piece white cardboard box printed on the sides, and had a color printed photo of the structure glued on the front. The boxed opened from the top and was basically a smaller and more simplified version of the GCC. The city sets were designed to stimulate a childs creative ability, and at the same time, make their fingertips very sore! Based on the snap together building panels included with the Microman Build Base play set, the Micropolis city sets could be assembled in any configuration you could think up. The basic idea was to connect each panel with small gray connectors and build structures that resembled the ones on the packaging.
 
Each set came with a large sized instruction sheet map that acted like blue prints for each building section. You could lay each panel out on the map, and then begin the arduous task of snapping each in onto each connector. Each panel contained roughly 12 5mm holes, and had small recessed surfaces to snap the square connectors into. The connectors had a small bend in them, and contained 4 dimples. The bend allowed the connector to fold over for corners or be rigid for walls, depending on which way you attached it to the panel piece. This was the "exclusive snap-action two-way Microhinge"! This particular set had 124 parts, and had these basic components: square panels, triangle panels, octagon panels, domes, chairs, and girders.
  
 
Being a department store catalog item, it's a little more rare to find complete with box then the basic building sets, and also varies drastically from the prototype version shown in the Micronauts pamphlets released in 1977.The distinguishing feature of the SSS was the extra accessories included, 2 small gray wheels with holders (identical to the ones included with Biotron), a wind up high torque motor (identical to those released with the vehicles) and 2 gray "star ports". This was a cool little decorative piece that would have been nice added to the other building sets.

prototype as shown in pamphlet

 
The SSS was meant to be a space station and a large vehicle all in one. The Micropolis building sets did however look very cool and space aged when built, and were hours of fun…because they usually took hours to assemble!