Member Article

Surrey Satellite Technology launches new space centre

A new space centre, which will be used to send four satellites into orbit this summer, has been launched by Guildford-based Surrey Satellite Technology (SSTL) with the help of county council deputy leader Peter Martin.

SSTL was founded in 1985 by Sir Martin Sweeting with a £100 loan from the University of Surrey’s vice chancellor. The firm, which has pioneered the use of small satellites built from low-cost off-the-shelf equipment, holds a 40% share of the global export market for small satellites.

The company, which now employs 500 people, and was bought out from the University in 2009 by Airbus. Sir Martin and his team has built and launched more than 40 small satellites, ranging in weight from 3.5kg to 660kg, and has over 20 others in production.

The council’s deputy leader, Peter Martin said: “The facilities are really are out of this world and I have no doubt they will be the nerve centre for many successful missions. “Our role is to help SSTL and all the county’s other businesses succeed, whether that’s here in Surrey, globally or indeed in space, and do what they do best – create jobs and promote growth.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ellen Forster .