Flight proven satellite platforms from Surrey Satellite Technology US LLC (SST-US) have been selected by NASA's Rapid Spacecraft Development Office (RSDO) for inclusion in the third NASA Rapid Spacecraft Acquisition Catalog (Rapid III).

SST-US’ Chief Executive Officer, Dr. John Paffett stated

It is a privilege for SST-US to have been selected by NASA for inclusion in the Catalog. It is recognition of the company’s capabilities, expertise and heritage. We believe that the Catalog provides an efficient route for SST-US to provide rapid, low risk, cost effective satellite solutions to NASA and other Government Agencies and we look forward to delivering future mission opportunities.

Through this contractual framework SST-US will be able to engage with NASA and other Government Agencies for the rapid provision of low risk, cost effective satellite solutions based on the SSTL 150, 300 and 600 platforms.

Continue reading "SST-US platforms get NASA seal of approval"

Twenty six years ago today the University of Surrey team led by future SSTL-founder Sir Martin Sweeting launched the UoSAT-2 satellite (a.k.a UO-11) onboard a Delta rocket with LandSat-D from Vandenberg Air Force Base, USA on the 1st March 1984.

The 60kg small satellite was built in just 6 months and carried a Digitalker speech synthesiser and experiments including magnetometers, a CCD camera, a Geiger-Müller tube and a microphone to detect micrometeoroid impacts.

UoSAT-2 was instrumental in providing a communications link from the Canadian-Soviet Ski-Trek support teams to the expedition party in 1986. The position of the skiers' emergency beacon was calculated daily by Cospas-Sarsat ground stations and relayed to them and thousands of amateur radio listeners as a spoken message from the Digitalker on board UO-11. This is really worth a listen - visit the expedition web page. The message could also serve as an emergency channel to the skiers in the event that all other radio links failed.

Continue reading "UoSAT-2 transmitting for 26 years"

The SSTL Group is attending a number of shows in 2010 where it will present its latest satellite subsystems, satellite communications and civilian and commercial earth observation mission capabilities. Experts from SSTL and its American operation SSTL US will be on hand to discuss your latest space challenges and how they might be solved.

SATTECH
Singapore - 28-30 January 2010.
The Global Space and Technology Convention (GSTC) is the world’s premier Space Convention showcasing the latest technology in space engineering and design.

ASS Guidance & Control Conference
Breckenridge, Colorado, USA - 6-10 February.
Join SSTL US LLC at the AIAA Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GN&C) Conferencefor the latest developments in GN&C technology, with a unique focus on theory and applications in aeronautics and astronautics.

HOSDB 2010
Farnborough - 16-18 March 2010. Join SSTL on stand F17.
The HOSDB 2010 exhibition is a UK event showcasing the latest security equipment for law enforcement and public security. It focuses on: Crime and Policing, Security and Counter Terrorism, Identity Management and Border Security.

Satellite 2010
National Harbor, Maryland, USA - 16-18 March 2010. SSTL stand 1925.
This event looks to the future of satellite-enabled communications and the solutions that new technology and new markets will provide. Keep an eye on the Satellite Today blog for more information.

FIDAE Air & Space Show
Santiago, USA - 23-28 March 2010
This is the leading fair in Latin America and one of the five most important aeronautical fairs in the world.

National Space Symposium
Colorado Springs, USA - 12-15 April 2010. Join SSTL US LLC on stand 308.
The symposium has become widely known as the premier U.S. space policy and program forum with information and interaction on all sectors of space.

For more information keep an eye on Space Blog - or why not subscribe to our RSS feed using the big orange button in the top right.

The time has come around again for The British Science Festival, an event which is organised by the British Science Association, and takes place every September. The University of Surrey, Guildford, will host of the festival this year with further events scheduled throughout the rest of the county. The festivities begin tomorrow, on Saturday 5th September and draw to a close on the 10th.

There are lots of activities to get involved in during the 6 day event, including discussions, plays and talks. SSTL's Sir Martin Sweeting, Andy Bradford, and Dave Hodgson are amongst the speakers at the Festival. Both Bradford and Sweeting hail from local Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL), with Hodgson making an appearance from DMC International Imaging Ltd.

Continue reading "British Science Festival kicks off tomorrow"