In the news

Hot off the press. The deal promises more investment and the financial backing of the larger parent company, whilst preserving SSTL's unique market position and vision in changing the economics of space.

EADS Astrium, Europe’s leading space company, has entered into an agreement to acquire the innovative University of Surrey spin-out company Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL), which specialises in the design and manufacture of small and micro satellites. This landmark deal provides the financial and industrial resources required for SSTL’s expansion and future development. Completion of the acquisition is subject to obtaining the relevant regulatory approval.

“In the UK we are renowned for our design and manufacture of telecommunications satellites, interplanetary spacecraft and satellite services provision. SSTL is one of the great success stories of the UK space industry and will be a substantial complement to what we can offer customers around the world with its expertise in small and micro satellites and their innovative approach to developing new markets for space,”.

Colin Paynter, CEO of Astrium in the UK.

Professor Sir Martin Sweeting, Executive Chairman of SSTL, has been an active ambassador for the UK space industry for many years and considers the acquisition as essential:

“SSTL operates in a highly competitive global market. If we are to continue changing the economics of space and provide the innovative solutions our customers demand we must expand and maintain our R&D investment. This acquisition strengthens SSTL enormously whilst preserving our unique approach to space.”

You can tune in to a podcast with Sir Martin to hear his personal thoughts on the deal by clicking here.

Professor Christopher Snowden, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Surrey commented:

“This is a great move for both the University and SSTL. On completion, this will represent one of the largest cash spin-outs from any UK university. It will also allow the Company to realise its full potential as a rapidly growing and leading supplier of small and micro satellites, whilst the University retains the benefit of close interaction with SSTL and its new partner EADS Astrium. By retaining a small stake in SSTL the University shows its commitment to both the future of the Company and space research itself.”

SSTL is joining EADS Astrium following a decision by the University of Surrey to sell its majority stake of circa 80% in the small satellite manufacturer. SSTL will remain an independent UK company with its individual brand and unique approach to space following the agreement, whilst benefiting from access to the resources of a large corporation including design, manufacturing and test facilities. Astrium will benefit from enhanced links with the University of Surrey to support staff training and development, also leading to greater cooperation and increased research on space technology and systems.

Astrium is one of the world’s leaders for its expertise in space transportation, spacecraft and satellite services including prime contractor for Ariane 5, the Columbus space laboratory and the Automated Transfer Vehicle for the International Space Station, and its leading-edge large and complex geostationary telecommunications satellites, and the Skynet 5 secure communications system for the UK Ministry of Defence. SSTL will complement Astrium’s existing space capabilities that include space transportation, satellites and services.

Under the share purchase agreement, SSTL will be owned by EADS Astrium NV in the Netherlands. Completion of the transaction remains subject to approval by the relevant merger control authorities.

The agreement sees long-term research collaboration between the University of Surrey and EADS Astrium and will further advance the University’s cutting edge space research capacity. The collaboration will also allow Astrium to benefit from staff training and development opportunities afforded by the links with the University. The sale will support the already-strong presence that Guildford and the south-east have in the aeronautical and space industries, creating a centre of expertise for space technology. This will allow for the region to benefit from the Government’s commitment to invest in the UK space industry.

Minister for Science and Innovation, Ian Pearson today visited SSTL’s headquarters in Guildford to discuss the company’s important contribution to the UK space industry. His visit follows the release of the UK Civil Space Strategy on February 14th, which outlines the Government's future direction for the sector for 2008-2012.

Mr Pearson visited SSTL operations critical to supporting the Government’s space objectives. This included an introduction to SSTL’s DMCii Ltd subsidiary, where he met the team that are currently leading the International Charter: Space and major disasters on behalf of the BNSC. He also met project managers from the European Space Agency (ESA) missions such as the highly successful Galileo satellite, GIOVE-A, and discussed the role of small satellites in providing security and military capabilities.

Speaking at SSTL, Minister for Science and Innovation, Ian Pearson, said:

"The UK Civil Space Strategy outlined the Government's commitment to the UK space industry and measures to ensure UK businesses increase their share of the growing international sector. As I've seen today some of the most innovative work in this area is being carried out right here in Surrey."

The highlight of Mr Pearson’s visit was the presentation of plans that will secure the UK’s closer involvement in international initiatives on the future shape of space exploration to the Moon, Mars and beyond. SSTL will take the lead on landmark missions to prove new technologies that will provide low cost infrastructure for future lunar missions. These could include the provision of communications from the Moon back to Earth. This British-supplied infrastructure could also be used to relay communications back from interplanetary missions, for example Mars to Earth.

Sir Martin Sweeting, SSTL Group Executive Chairman, commented,

“SSTL is pioneering innovative low cost technologies that maintain and develop the UK’s market share in the global space sector. In particular, SSTL’s MoonLite and MoonRaker missions with NASA are of great importance to the British government’s space strategy going forward.”

In time, a constellation of satellites could also be built up to provide valuable services such as GPS in the same way as the Earth. This satellite infrastructure will provide essential services to the international missions on the Moon’s surface such as Rovers, Landers and smaller space experiments that are planned by nations such as Russia, China, India and the US over the coming years.

Competition is hotting up as young students throughout the UK start work on their bid for the BNSC funded Space Experiment competition. The basic idea is to create an experiment that fits into a 10cm X 10 cm X 10 cm box. The student that wins will get expert help from SSTL and an astronomical £100,000 to support their efforts. If that sounds good, here's the best bit

The winning experiment will be flown on-board a real SSTL satellite in space.

Baffled? Cautious? Visit the Space Experiment website and get some ideas flowing.

Initial proposals are due in by the end of February so if you haven't entered already - get your skates on! If you are a parent or teacher and you know students that have a passion for science and technology - get your teenage students involved.

For those of you who missed our Space Experiment blog, here's some more details... and hopefully inspiration.

Why encourage more students to study science and engineering?

There has been a worrying decline in the number of students studying mathematics, science, engineering and technology subjects. The proof is evidenced by a 30% decrease in physics, a 25% decrease in mathematics, and a 19% decrease in chemistry entries at A level between 1991 and 2003. These are some of the most practical and strategically important subjects and could lead to skills gaps in industry, the risks to Britain’s economic success and a threat to Britain’s’ international reputation as a leader in science research. Source: Lord May, President of the Royal Society testimony to the Parliamentary Scientific Committee in May 2004.

School children find science and mathematics dull and difficult and do not see its relevance in their lives. Source; SET for Success Report for Sir Gareth Roberts Review for HM Treasury.

Why space and not something more ...practical?

Britain has a thriving space industry adds £7 billion to the British economy each year and supports 70,000 jobs, not just in the space research institutes and higher profiles but also in the vital high tech engineering companies that supply parts and technologies for use in space.

Space is one of the highest skilled workforces in the Britain and the technologies developed for satellites and missions to other planets can benefit the whole engineering sector, both in terms of available skills and also the creation of new technologies. Some of these technologies are "space-enabled". For example, Britain leads the world in global mobile satellite communications, earth observation, space enabled creative industries and in planetary science.

Space is key to sustainable development and can be used to map sea temperature changes, provide communications in the case of disaster relief and open up new opportunities in healthcare and new energy sources.

BNSC and SSTL are offering UK schools the chance to fly an experiment on one of the small satellites built by SSTL. Any UK students, either individuals or teams, aged between 14 and 18 can enter their experimental package. Speaking about the Space Experiment on the BBC news website today Brainchild Dr Stuart Eves (SSTL) :

Satellites affect everyone on the planet. They deliver telephone communications and TV programmes across the globe, enable the safe navigation of ships and aircraft and provide the timing signals that are used to coordinate the national power grid and mobile phone calls.

The BNSC's Dr Ian Gibson also commented in the BBC report, expressing the essence of the Space Experiment.

This hands-on competition should be fun as well as educational

To hear more you can also tune in to the Today Programme on Radio 4. Use the "Listen Again" function for this morning (Thursday 13th December) and search around 6:55 am.

The winning experiment can weigh up to 1kg and will have a development budget of up to £100,000. The deadline for receiving initial proposals is 28th February 2008, so get your skates on!

BNSC and SSTL hope that the competition will stimulate interest in Space, with many entrants. Out of the hopefuls, six finalists will be announced at the UK Space Conference at Charterhouse in March 2008 and invited to submit more detailed proposals for consideration.

The winners will be announced at the IAF Congress in Glasgow in October 2008 and the winning experiment will be integrated onto an SSTL mission due to fly in the 2010 timeframe.

The experiment could aim to measure some aspect of the space environment, investigate some aspect of the Earth, or test a new satellite technology in Low Earth Orbit What to include in an initial proposal (of up to 5 pages):

• The purpose of the experiment you would like to fly.
  
• What data you would expect to collect.
  
• How you would use the data collected.
  
• How your experiment would advance space science or technology.
  

For full details visit the Space Experiment website: www.spaceexperiment.info