Surrey Satellite Technology (SSTL) is celebrating 30 years of operations, from a tiny enthusiastic group at the University of Surrey in 1985, to 500 staff today with a satellite assembly line.
“We have come a long way together since the early days of our first microsatellites,” said founder Sir Martin Sweeting. “Indeed, small satellites are now all the fashion and we can be proud to have stimulated a global industry.”
In June 1985, a small team including PhD student Sweeting designed and made UoSAT-1 using commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) components in the corner of a University lab.
Launched in 1981, UoSAT-1 weighing 72kg and, according to SSTL, claimed two firsts: the first microsatellite with in-orbit re-programmable computer and the first to fly a CCD area array Earth imager.
Since then, the company has had more firsts including: first recorded and verified unintentional space debris impact by two man-made objects in Earth orbit, first orbiting UK nanosatellite, first use of butane as a space propellant, first orbiting satellite with a web address, and the first momentum wheel to guide a landing craft to the surface of a comet.
Originally a spin-out from the University, SSTL moved to purpose-built premises on the Surrey Research Park in 2006. 99% of it was bought by EADS Astrium in 2009, and since 2014 it has been an independent company within the Airbus Defence and Space Group.
SSTL facts:
Its satellites have amassed over 520 orbit years, ~115 million Earth orbits and 5 trillion km of travel.
Six national space agencies have been formed as a result of SSTL satellite launches.
The firm has averaged 2 satellite launches per year – 43 launches from eight different sites. Four more launches are due this year.
20 spacecraft are in manufacture or awaiting launch, as well as 22 payloads for Europe’s GPS-like Galileo constellation.
from News http://ift.tt/1GKPgIK
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