Space technologists support local charity
Tuesday, December 16. 2008
Anne Milton MP, Mohammad Zubair and Matt Perkins
Surrey Satellite Technology Limited showed that their satellite technology is not only beneficial for longer-term natural disaster monitoring; it also benefits the local community. When the new Surrey built UKDMC-2 satellite joins a group of six SSTL satellites in March in order to monitor and record natural disasters such as tsunamis, earth quakes, volcanic activity and flooding, it will also be carrying a message of benevolence.
Whilst building the spacecraft that is worth more than £5million, Dr Matt Perkins, Chief Executive of SSTL, came up with the idea of running a competition which would benefit a local charity. The winner of the competition would have the once in a lifetime opportunity to have their name or company logo printed alongside the satellite.
Galaxy Cars, a mini-cab company from Woking, won the competition by donating £8000 to Phyllis Tuckwell, a dedicated Hospice in Farnham that provides care to more than 100 people every day. Phyllis Tuckwell will also have their name printed on the space capsule.
Dr Perkins explained that he wanted to help the local community as SSTL’s work has a certain reach, which could be capitalised to promote charitable projects:
I was touched by what I heard about Phyllis Tuckwell and so we took the opportunity to raise funds for them and put their name into space
Sarah Brocklebank, Chief Executive of Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice, said:
I was delighted with the contribution and the opportunity of having the charity name floating in orbit.
Mohammad Zubair, owner of Galaxy Cars, stated:
We think this is a great opportunity to put something back into the community.
The new satellite is the latest edition to SSTL’s space portfolio and will join a team of six devices that are already in orbit, one of which has been going more than five years (Alsat-1).
