Electronics Weekly
Optical Payloads
The facility will support the company’s capabilities in optical imaging and will be home to SSTL’s Optical Payloads Team.
It will be used, for example, for its Earth observation satellite missions. Optical imagers provide the data for applications such as environmental monitoring, disaster management, and urban planning.
The UK Space Agency’s CEO, Paul Bate, officially cut the ribbon at the new facility. The agency has helped with £250,000 of funding for the initiative.
SSTL’s Managing Director, Andrew Cawthorne, said:
“We are immensely grateful to the UK Space Agency for their support through the Space Clusters Infrastructure Fund. Their investment has enabled us to create a fantastic, state-of-the-art cleanroom facility, which is now enabling our Payload Imaging Team to continue their vital work in designing and assembling the world-class optical imagers that power SSTL’s Earth observation missions.
“This marks another milestone in our mission to deliver innovative, high-performance satellite technology to our customers around the globe.”
Optical cleanroom
For his part, Dr. Paul Bate highlighted the UK’s strengths in Earth observation:
“The opening of this state-of-the-art Optical Cleanroom at Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd is a testament to the UK’s strengths in Earth observation. This facility will play a crucial role in delivering high-performance optical imagers that support a wide range of advanced missions and applications, from monitoring floods and wildfires to delivering intelligence and reconnaissance services.”
“Made possible through our Space Clusters Infrastructure Fund, we are building our national capabilities and developing new satellite technologies that deliver the benefits of space back to Earth.”
The cleanroom is located at the company’s headquarters in Guildford.
Image: SSTL – UK Space Agency CEO Dr. Paul Bate is centre. He is flanked by SSTL MD Andrew Cawthorne (left) and SSTL Chairman Sir Martin Sweeting (right).
See also: SSTL to lead UK Space Agency LEOPARD project for removing debris
