When a satellite passes within range of one of SSTL’s ground stations, log files from its entire orbit are automatically downloaded to Mission Control as well as real time telemetry. This “whole orbit data” includes information on the status of the various systems that make up the satellite. The Control Centre computers monitor the live telemetry and alert an operator if there is a problem. Depending on the severity of the problem, the operator on duty is sent an alert by email and SMS if urgent attention is required. During the day, an SSTL team is always on hand, but if a problem should occur out of hours the emergency response team take it in turns to respond.

James Northam, head of the Ground Systems Group, explains: “ We use the whole orbit data to monitor the performance of specific system parameters whilst the satellite is out of range of the ground stations. If there is a problem we can replay the recorded data to help determine the issue.” All the data is archived so there is a record of the whole mission from when a satellite was first launched to the mission completion. “Having this data record is invaluable. “ says James. “It allows us to look at trends in performance and spot the start of an issue early before it becomes a serious problem.”


The ground stations themselves are also monitored and controlled remotely from Mission Control. From a screen in Mission Control, the operators can check the status of all the groundstations and their associated hardware, and see the dish antennas via CCTV to confirm they are operating as they should. This morning we can see an antenna moving into position to track GIOVE-A on the monitor as it happens, making the experience all the more “real”. Like Mission Control, each groundstation is also highly automated: For example, the antenna dish will be stowed automatically in the event of high winds – which is essential when a ground station is in a remote or inaccessible location.

Continue reading "Spacecraft operations"

For anyone visiting the SSTL headquarters in Guildford UK during the past year, it’s been hard to miss the construction of the new state-of-the-art Kepler Building just opposite. True to SSTL’s approach, the building, that was just blueprints months ago, is now ready for business and is already filling up with people and equipment.



With projects such as the European GNSS payloads and the DMC3 Earth Observation constellation on the go, SSTL has far outgrown their original facilities at University of Surrey and there have been plans of a new completely customised building for some time. Space Blog caught up with SSTL Facility Manager Tim Gilbert, who oversaw the design and build of the new facility, from planning to construction. Tim pointed out how they used all their previous experience when planning and designing the Kepler building. Capitalising on input from engineers and employees whilst taking production workflow into consideration, was essential to make the new facility as functional and efficient as possible.

Tim Gilbert said “We needed to predict not only the future increased size but also the handling challenges associated with the future generations of satellites. As SSTL is moving towards producing larger and heavier satellites, we don’t want to be constrained by the size of the building in which we’re working. With the Kepler building we’re able to meet our 5-10 year business plan”.

The new facility’s cleanrooms, laboratories and testing facilities total 3,700sqm (40,000 sqft), a huge step change upwards in production capacity. Satellites as big as GIOVE-A can easily fit through the cleanrooms with 11 metre high ceilings, wide doors and large access corridors. The Kepler Building will accommodate typically 40 permanent staff, and anything up to 100 further project specific staff from across the company at peak test and integration periods.

New world-class Assembly, Integration and Test halls are integral to the new facility, providing two 125 cubic metre walk-in thermal chambers, a seismic test platform, monorail and gantry cranes ranging from 3,200kg to 15,000kg and reinforced floors - providing the greatest possible flexibility for integration and testing of both small and larger spacecraft simultaneously.

The Kepler Building is also assessed as Very Good through the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM), evaluating a range of issues from the building’s user friendliness to it’s environmental impact.

Satellites currently being assembled and tested in the new world-class test halls include TechDemoSat-1 and the Kazakhstan medium resolution satellite for Astrium. Six SSTL satellite missions are scheduled for launch this year: NigeriaSat-2 and NigeriaSat-X for NASRDA, KANOPUS 1 and 2 spacecraft for VNIIEM, ADS-1B for COM DEV, and SAPPHIRE for MacDonald Dettwiler Associates (MDA). The new capacity also plays an important role in SSTL’s contract to supply the first 14 European GNSS payloads in partnership with OHB Technology, which will be assembled in the secure facility.

This week, Space Blog visited Mission Control Guildford – from which SSTL monitors and controls more than a dozen small satellites – with James Northam, head of the Ground Systems Group.

We enter the room. All is quiet, apart from the whirr of server fans. Large flat screens display the footprints of the SSTL satellites in orbit. The reason for this rather quiet control room, explains James, is that SSTL Mission Control is a “lights out” operation, taking advantage of the high degree of autonomy on board the satellites and the sophisticated ground software, written in-house and unique to SSTL, to achieve this high degree of automation.

James said: “We currently track 14 satellites from our Mission Control Centre in Guildford, that is to say following their path as they orbit the Earth. We can follow their progress on-screen as they orbit and when they come into range of one of our groundstations we can communicate with them and gather data – for example monitoring their health or recovering data from the payload.

“In addition to tracking these satellites we also control four of these satellites directly from Mission Control Guildford on behalf of our customers.”

Continue reading "Inside Mission Control Guildford "

SSTL founder, Professor Sir Martin Sweeting, yesterday received a prestigious new honour recognising and celebrating local innovation, creativity and commitment. The Guildford Roll of Honour is the result of collaboration between local partners the University of Surrey and Guildford Borough Council and will go on permanent display at the historic Guildhall in Guildford’s town centre.

Sir Martin was nominated in recognition of his contribution to the economy and the profile of Guildford worldwide, winning both national and international acclaim for his work spanning three decades. The inaugural award was presented at a special celebratory black tie dinner on Thursday 30th June with an audience of guests drawn from the worlds of business, education and public service.