Space blog

Student Moon mission begins

nospam@example.com (Robin Wolstenholme) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:56:06 +0000

SSTL has been selected by the European Space Agency (ESA) to manage a pan-European student built mission to the Moon. The European Student Moon Orbiter (ESMO) programme will place a spacecraft into a lunar orbit to map the lunar surface, acquiring images and other scientific data about our nearest neighbour.

Students from at least 10 universities throughout ESA's Member States and Cooperating States will learn about space science and engineering “hands on” by collaborating on the design and building of systems that could be launched into orbit around the Moon as soon as 2013.

Team ESMO!

The photo to the left shows the university academics and students that are involved with the ESMO programme, gathered outside SSTL in Guilford.

SSTL will draw upon its experience in delivering cost effective space missions and training schemes to project manage the European Student Moon Orbiter (ESMO) mission, supervising the academic and student teams throughout Europe to help them achieve their goal of a space-ready Moon orbiter.

Professor Sir Martin Sweeting, Executive Chairman of SSTL said, “SSTL has had its sights on the Moon for nearly a decade and ESMO combines the industrial and educational strengths of SSTL towards this exciting challenge. We have shown many times in the past that success in space can be achieved at a fraction of the cost normally considered and we expect that this exciting mission will further demonstrate that this applies as well to science missions as Earth Observation and communications.”

SSTL Lunar Expert Andy Phipps commented, “ESMO is an extremely exciting opportunity for these European students to learn about space “hands-on”, but with the practical insight and support of our training and development programmes.

“Having successfully delivered the radar payload processor to BAE Systems for NASA’s contribution to the Indian lunar mission Chandrayaan-1, the ESMO project is just as significant for SSTL and forms the next step on our lunar roadmap – the delivery of a complete mission”, continued Phipps.

SSTL was recently down-selected by the UK government’s STFC (Science and Technology Facilities Council) to lead the design phase for the MoonLITE mission, which will lead to the development and launch of a low-cost lunar orbiter carrying scientific lunar surface penetrators and a communications relay payload to the Moon in 2014.

CHRIS celebrates 8th year onboard Proba-1

nospam@example.com (Robin Wolstenholme) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 07:37:24 +0000

SSTL is celebrating the 8th year in orbit of the high resolution CHRIS Imager, which was launched on-board the European Space Agency’s PROBA-1 mission, in October 2001.

Chichester Harbour, UK

The Compact High Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (CHRIS) is a highly versatile hyperspectral system that was developed by SSTL’s Optical Payload Group. CHRIS was one of many instruments on-board the mission, with the others including a Space Radiation Environment Monitor (SREM) and a Payload Autonomous Star Sensor (PASS).

CHRIS offers the highest spatial resolution of any hyperspectral system currently in orbit and can provide simultaneous images of the Earth in 19 wavebands. This allows for many features of the images it produces to be identified and analysed.

This high resolution imager enables ESA’s Proba-1 mission to acquire detailed images of the Earth. The result – stunning images of natural and urban phenomena.

A cropped CHRIS satellite image of San Diego

Many more images can be seen on ESA’s website including that of the Mauna Kea Volcano, Hawaii and Tokyo.

CHRIS can be used for many applications, including precision farming, disaster monitoring, air quality assessment and seabed classification, and has proved so successful that it has paved the way for advanced sibling CHRIS-2, which allows for other valuable applications to be addressed, including mineralogy and pollution monitoring.

The CHRIS Imager is not the only family to have grown, as the ESA’s Proba-1 mission has now been joined in orbit by Proba-2, which was successfully launched yesterday.

In addition to SSTL's CHRIS hyperspectral imager, ESA's 8-year old PROBA-1 mission has been continuing to depend on a number of sub-systems provided by SSTL (incorporating contributions from Space Innovations Limited). These include the power system, communications system, AOCS sensors, the Data Handling System computer and the SGR-20 Space GPS receiver. All systems remain fully operational in the primary chain of the satellite and have served to enable the extended life imagery capture from the CHRIS and HRC payloads.

Space age composites at new Bordon facility

nospam@example.com (Robin Wolstenholme) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 08:50:08 +0000

SSTL’s new Composites Facility in Bordon, Hampshire will complement its design and engineering capabilities.

Composites Facility

Composites are fundamental to state of the art engineering, and their inherent versatility, strength and low weight makes this class of materials an essential component in SSTL satellite design. The vertical integration promises lead time and cost savings that will enable the company to deliver excellent value satellite missions by using the best available technologies.

The 10,000 square feet facility's primary function is the manufacture of composite components and structures and it has a climate controlled Lay-up Room, Processing Area, dedicated Surface Preparation Area and a Trimming and Finishing facility. A large Processing Oven, Vapour Degreasing Tank, 'Vapormaster' Shot Blast Cabinet, Walk-in Freezer are already installed and a composites curing Autoclave will also be commissioned in 2010.

Malaysia's TiungSat turns 9

nospam@example.com (Robin Wolstenholme) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:09:30 +0000

Malaysian space scientists at Astronautic Technology Sdn Bhd (ATSB) celebrated the ninth anniversary of the launch of Tiungsat-1 on the 26th September.

Tiung SAT was the first Malaysian microsatellite, developed through the technology transfer and training programme between Astronautic Technology Sdn Bhd (ATSB) Malaysia and SSTL in the UK. Tiung SAT-1 was launched aboard Dnepr rocket from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan on 26 September 2000.

Tiungsat launch team showing both SSTL and customer at the launch site. From SSTL are Andy Currie, Sascha Manitz and Victor van der Zel.

The satellite was developed as part of a technology transfer and training program between ATSB in Kuala Lumpur and SSTL in the UK. Its payloads included an amateur radio relay, an Earth imaging system, a GPS-based navigation and attitude control system, as well as a data transfer experiment and a cosmic ray detector.

Tiung Sat integration

The photo to the left shows Tiung Sat at integration and was taken at the launch site. SSTL's launch expert Andy Currie is shown making final preparations to the spacecraft before it was loaded onto the launcher.

The SSTL project manager for Tiung Sat was Tim Butlin, who is now working as an Operations Manager for Macdonald Dettwiler Space and Robotics. Tim remains a regular visitor to SSTL and working on the Sapphire mission that will provide a satellite-based Resident Space Object (RSO) observing service to accurately track deep space orbiting objects.

As is often the case, the Tiung Sat program included traning and development at SSTL's premises in Guildford, UK. The aim of such programs is to give customers the tools and experience to establish their own successful Low Cost Space Programme. The Tiung Sat programme comprised a total-immersion space mission engineering experience, from blank sheet through academics, design, assembly, integration, test, launch and operations.

Tiung Sat

TiungSAT-1 was the first microsatellite for the Astronautic Technology (M) SDN. BHD. Company (ATSB) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It was built by SSTL, at the Surrey Space Centre under a UKP8.4m contract (1997), within a Know- How Technology Transfer Programme between the UK and Malaysia, including the installation of a satellite control centre in Malaysia.

Just a few months ago in July ATSB also launched Razaksat-1, the first remote sensing satellite to be placed in equatorial orbit. Visit the new ATSB website for some great images, audio commentary and videos from the RazahhSat-1 launch onboard the SpaceX Falcon1 rocket.

Galileo discussions on BBC Radio 4

nospam@example.com (Robin Wolstenholme) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 14:29:06 +0000

UK readers can tune in to Radio 4's Click On Technology in just a few minutes to hear SSTL's GPS expert Martin Unwin and Prof. David Last answer the naiton's questions about GPS and Galileo questions.

Tune in to find out more about SSTL's GIOVE-A satellite, Galileo, GPS and how to avoid loosing your dog. Don't worry if you're not free at this precise moment in time, because it will be provided online after broadcast.

Radio 4 Click On Technology

Nigeria completes milestone in space

nospam@example.com (Robin Wolstenholme) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 08:53:19 +0000

Nigeria's space program has passed another milestone as both the state of the art NigeriaSat-2 and the Nigerian-built NigeriaSat-X (NX) spacecraft passed their Flight Readiness Reviews.

The completion of this review signifies that the two spacecraft are now ready for launch. At the same time, the Launch Services Agreement was signed that will see the two spacecraft launched onboard a Dnepr rocket in Q4 2010.

Nigerian engineer Bosun Yusuf at Rutherford Appleton Laboratories

Nigeria's future space engineers pictured with Sir Martin Sweeting, Executive Chairman SSTL

Meanwhile, the 26 Nigerian trainees, some of who have spent 3 years at SSTL, have now returned to Nigeria ready to begin operations of their two spacecraft once they launch next year.

To Russia with love

nospam@example.com (Robin Wolstenholme) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 09:57:39 +0000

In March 2007, SSTL announced that it had signed an order with Federal State Unitary Enterprise - The Russian Research and Production Enterprise Pan-Russian Research Institute for Electromechanics (FSUE NPP VNIIEM) and Radioexport of Russia for the supply for the supply of satellite platform equipment and services for the KANOPUS Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Earth observation spacecraft.

The first satellite, KANOPUS-B will monitor the Earth's surface and support the monitoring of disasters, agricultural planning and the management of water and coastal resources.

The project was to be a highly cooperative effort from the beginning, with great admiration on both sides of the project. The cooperation has also been different in the nature of its deliverables, and for technical, cultural reasons.

First of all, let’s look into the project itself. SSTL is a small satellite manufacturer, that regularly builds and integrates fully-functioning satellites like the recently launched UK-DMC2 or Deimos-1 earth observation missions. It also supplies sub-systems such as high resolution earth imaging payloads, multi-spectral imagers, on-board computers or GPS receivers for third party missions.

For the KANOPUS-B contract, a new approach was adopted where SSTL would build the satellite platform, avionics equipment and software, but then support VNIIEM with their spacecraft assembly and payload integration activities in Russia.

Integration – the moment of truth

During May and June, teams from SSTL visited VNIIEM’s impressive Assembly, integration and test (AIT) facilities in Moscow.

AIT Engineer Rob Gibbings and manufacturing engineer Greg Rouse can be seen to the left cutting a wiring harness to the required length and attaching customer connectors onto the SSTL harness.

More recently, in August, a team from SSTL visited the VNIIEM AIT facilities in Moscow to connect the SSTL equipment with the rest of the satellite equipment, perform tests on hardware and perform initial integration checks before satellite integration.

In the photo Lead AIT engineer Ari Venkatesan is connecting the VNIIEM Solar Array Simulator (SAS) to the SSTL power system, which was one of the integration checks performed.

During the visit in August, SSTL successfully integrated the VNIIEM SAS.

SSTL provided power and pulse-per-second [satellite timing information] to the Mission Hardware (Payload) through our systems, and achieved communication between the SSTL on-board computer and the Mission Hardware over the MIL-1553 data bus.

One of the major technical differences was the Russian’s use of a MIL-1553 data bus, and the compatibility of the SSTL built systems with this.

SSTL’s heritage systems use a CAN (control area network) bus for robust on-board communications between subsystems. VNIIEM wanted SSTL’s CAN-based systems to be able to “talk” to the 1553 bus systems reliably and with no loss of information. This has been achieved by using the OBC (On-Board Computer) as the interface between the SSTL CAN data bus and the VNIIEM MIL-1553 data bus. The OBC in effect performs the translation from MIL-1553 data into CAN data and vice-versa.

The SSTL on-board computer is also using newly developed flight software for this mission. Building the software from the new operating system upwards and accommodating the new and different payload interfaces and modes of operation to what SSTL is accustomed to is no small task. This newly developed software successfully established communications with the Mission Hardware during the testing in Moscow. Further testing is required, but this first step went a long way to build confidence in both teams.

The culture of engineering

Yes, you heard right. Culture and engineering in the same sentence.

The two companies have a very different engineering culture. SSTL has made a name for itself by changing the economics of space – a feat made possible by adopting Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) technology and applying it to space systems.

VNIIEM AIT facilities in Moscow

Its heritage is built on a “systems engineering” approach which takes advantage of new technologies and tight integration. For example, one of the reasons that SSTL can provide such fast turnaround for missions is that their “off the shelf” platforms comprise tightly integrated subsystems for telemetry, navigation, mission planning and attitude control.

The culture of engineering in Russia is quite different. This is largely because SSTL’s Russian counterparts are more familiar with building larger satellites with stringent specifications and reliability requirements.

SSTL, on the other hand builds complete systems that are integrated with software and (re)programmable electronics. The modules are physically separate and can be tested separately, but the customer benefits from advanced functionality and a more robust system within a lower total cost of ownership (TCO) when the system is treated as a whole.

Project Manager, Alex O’Neill explained,

“The design process is also different. Whereas we would design and allow for margins of error, the Russian approach is more focussed on eliminating errors through thorough, precise and comprehensive analysis and design choices.”

“This meant that our initial meetings could stop and start, with both ourselves and the VNIIEM engineers having different expectations.”

SSTL is a dynamic young company that attracts talented young scientists and engineers, as such the average age of the core team dedicated to the VNIIEM project is 33, even experts in a particular field may not be much older.

Alex O’Neill reflects,

“In the beginning, the age difference was very noticeable. We felt that we were perhaps treated with some fair scepticism by the more mature and very experienced and capable Russian engineers. Initially, our ideas were also difficult for these experienced space veterans to fully appreciate, but I am pleased to say that a strong mutual respect has been earned by both sides."

It is believed that the KANOPUS satellites will be launched either at the end of 2009 and early 2010, and SSTL looks forward to a long a fruitful relationship with VNIIEM in the future.

SSTL and DMCii on Discovery Science Channel

nospam@example.com (Robin Wolstenholme) — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 12:51:01 +0000

Space Blog readers from the US might be interested to learn that SSTL and its earth-imaging subsidiary DMCii will be featured in the Discovery Channel series program “How Do They Do It?”. The show has already aired in Europe, and now as promised in our August blog Watch SSTL and DMCii on TV, here's an update on the first US broadcast.

The episode is due to receive its first US transmission on Discovery Science Channel on Thursday 1st October at 9pm Eastern Time. It will also be repeated at midnight that day and then on Saturday 3rd October at 4am Eastern Time. Tune in with your family and friends for a lighthearted insight into how SSTL is changing the economics of space and see a hyperspectral imager being assembled at SSTL's optical payloads group.

GALILEO and GMES headline EU space conference

nospam@example.com (Robin Wolstenholme) — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 11:42:18 +0000

On October 15th and 16th, the great and the good will descend on Brussels to discuss the future of the European Space Policy. The conference, which is named “The ambitions of Europe in Space” will address Europe’s most ambitious programmes: GALILEO and GMES and their prospective benefits to technology, industry and society.

Prominent guests will include President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, the President of the new European Parliament, Jerzy Buzek, and the President of the European Investment Bank (EIB), Philippe Maystadt. Several others European leaders, such as Vice-Presidents Antonio Tajani and Jacques Barrot, or Jean-Jacques Dordain, General Manager of ESA also confirmed their participation.

Conference organiser Business Bridge Europe (BBE) will bring together European Institutions, national and local public authorities, R&D centres, manufacturers and everyone interested in meeting and discussing space policy, space systems’ applications and their financing.

On the 15th SSTL CEO, Dr. Matt Perkins will deliver a keynote speech about “The external dimension of the space authority: the example of Africa” alongside other industry representatives. The following day, DMCii Managing Director, Dave Hodgson will join other remote sensing experts from ESA and industry to discuss “Environment, Energy, Home Land Security and Agriculture”.
Continue reading "GALILEO and GMES headline EU space conference"

Astrium and SpaceX announce launch deal

nospam@example.com (Robin Wolstenholme) — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 15:56:34 +0000

SSTL’s owner Astrium and Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) have announced a contract which will see an Earth observation satellite designed by Astrium or SSTL launched by Falcon 1e, a SpaceX launch vehicle.

Falcon 1

The Falcon 1e is an ‘enhanced’ version of the Falcon 1 launch vehicle. Falcon 1e has been designed completely by SpaceX and benefits from upgraded propulsion, structures and avionics systems, allowing for more reliability. The original Falcon 1 was launched almost a year ago on September 28th 2008.

SSTL and Astrium provide a range of innovative, cutting edge Earth Observation satellite products. Through this partnership, they can offer customers a turnkey solution, with in-orbit delivery of a low Earth orbit satellite system.

Both parties have told of their joy at the partnership:

SpaceX's Falcon 1e launch vehicle was designed to provide the highest level of reliability as well as the lowest dedicated mission price of any orbital launch system

said Elon Musk, CEO and CTO of SpaceX.

SpaceX is pleased to be the launch services provider for this mission.

Evert Dudok, the CEO of Astrium Satellites stated

This Falcon 1e contract allows Astrium to provide a competitive solution for in-orbit delivery of an Earth observation satellite in low Earth orbit. This deal will ultimately benefit customers seeking innovative and low-cost solutions for valuable Earth observation programs.

You can watch the first successful Falcon-1 launch in October on Space Blog.

British Science Festival kicks off tomorrow

nospam@example.com (Robin Wolstenholme) — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 16:52:01 +0000

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"

No Wahala! Nigerian space advances

nospam@example.com (Robin Wolstenholme) — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 10:38:00 +0000

Nigeria’s space programme has made further progress this month, as the NigeriaSat-2 and NX Earth observation satellites passed environmental tests.

Nigerian engineers work on NX
(click to enlarge)

Environmental tests comprise a series of rigorous checks that are conducted to simulate the environment in which the spacecraft will operate in space. All spacecraft undergo these tests to validate the designs and to ensure quality control. It is a formal review milestone and a point at which SSTL engineers can identify potential issues for correction.

The NX satellite has been integrated and tested by Nigerian engineers working at SSTL during the past 2 years as part of their training and development programme.

This is the second such programme that SSTL has supplied to NASRDA. In 2003, NigeriaSat-1 was launched into the Disaster Monitoring Constellation (DMC) and remains operational. The launch of two further Nigerian satellites into the DMC will ensure continuity of the nation’s space assets as well as a significant advancement in capability through NigeriaSat-2’s high-resolution capability.

Under the current contract with the National Space Research & Development Agency (NASRDA), SSTL is providing a high-resolution Earth observation satellite, NigeriaSat-2, based on the SSTL-300 platform – the first to be built by SSTL. NX is based on the SSTL-100 platform, which has gained flight heritage through existing satellites in the DMC. Under the supervision of SSTL engineers, NX was built by the Nigerian training engineers, who also took the satellite through its test programme. A Nigerian operations team will also be on hand throughout the launch and commissioning phase, learning the necessary skills to operate the new spacecraft..

Nigerian satellites during testing
(click to enlarge)

The tests include thermal simulation, taking the spacecraft through the extreme ranges of temperature that they will experience in low earth orbit. These tests were conducted in the large space test chamber at Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in Oxfordshire. Each spacecraft was subjected to hot and cold cycles within a temperature range of +60dC to -20dC. Vacuum tests replicated the non-atmospheric environment in which the satellites will operate some 686km above the Earth. Thermal vacuum tests ran over a 5-day, 24-hour period with each subsystem tested individually within the extremes of environment.

The two satellites were then taken to EADS Astrium’s Portsmouth facility for vibration tests that simulate the challenging conditions of launch.

NigeriaSat-2 was then moved to the QinetiQ facilities in Chertsey where electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) tests were carried out to simulate interference and radiation effects that the satellite and subsystem electronics will face in orbit.

This is an exciting time for the 25 Nigerian engineers who have spent varying periods of time at SSTL and the University of Surrey over the past 2 years, working and studying to achieve the skills that will underpin Nigeria’s ongoing space programme. Both NigeriaSat-2 and NX are now nearing completion with the Flight Readiness Review (FRR) this month.

On September 22nd the training and development programme will reach completion and a new generation of highly skilled engineers will return to Nigeria to resume their work at the National Space Research & Development Agency (NASRDA) whilst they wait with anticipation for the launch of the two new satellites.

Just over a month ago, on July 30, 2009 Visit NASRDA website marked its 10 years of existence as a National Space Research & Development Agency, with mandate for the implementation of the Nigeria National Space Policies and Programmes

Video explains changing economics of space

nospam@example.com (Robin Wolstenholme) — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 10:53:46 +0000

For Space Blog readers that didn't catch our blog Watch SSTL and DMCii on TV, you can watch a clip of DMCii and SSTL in the Discovery Channel program How do they do it? below.

We would encourage anyone who missed the show to take a look at the official How do they do it website.

Find out more about SSTL's unique approach to space and to learn more about DMCii's satellite imaging using the DMC constellation visit the DMCii website.

New DMC satellites deliver stunning images

nospam@example.com (Robin Wolstenholme) — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 14:24:23 +0000

It's a busy time for both SSTL and DMCii as the new DMC satellites UK-DMC2 and Deimos-1, which were launched on the 29th July are commisioned and their imaging systems thoroughly tested and calibrated.

Just a week after launch, DMCii had already begun acquiring stunning satellite imagery from both satellites using the new 22m multi-spectral imaging payloads that they carry onboard. This would not have been possible without the new 22m multi-spectral imager that was developed by SSTL's Optical Payloads Group (OPG) in Sevenoaks, Kent. In a addition to the more obvious resolution increase it has over the previous 32m DMC imager, it includes a number of technological advances that improve the quality and calibration of the images DMCii receives.

First UK-DMC2 satellite image

This first image shows the states of Texas and Oklahoma, USA. The DMC satellites are specifically designed to image very large areas with rapid response and at regular intervals, as shown in this first multi-state image. The new satellites can image much larger areas in a single pass than the previous DMC satellites due to advances in onboard storage and high speed satellite downlinks to the Earth.

Don Benito, Spain. Deimos-1

This is one of the first 11 images taken by Deimos-1, see the Deimos-1 gallery provided by the satellite owner Deimos Space for more.

Continue reading "New DMC satellites deliver stunning images"

Watch SSTL and DMCii on TV

nospam@example.com (Robin Wolstenholme) — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 17:02:27 +0000

SSTL & DMCii are scheduled to be featured on the Discovery Channel’s "How Do They Do It?" television programme. Tune in to either Discovery Channel or Discovery HD at 20:00 on Thursday 27th August (Updated).

If you are not one of the 1.2 billion who already watch the program, "How Do They Do It?" showcases a wide variety of technology and inventions from around the world from the cutting-edge to the well established, telling the story behind the technology and essentially explaining how things work.

The SSTL/DMCii section is entitled “How do they make the satellites that provide pixel perfect pictures of the earth from deep space?”, which seems partucularly timely, considering the SSTL built UK-DMC2 and Deimos-1 satellites have just been launched and are supplying their first satellite images to DMCii as this blog is published.

For those readers outside the UK, the program will be followed by a US version on the Science Channel in early September. Space Blog will keep readers up to date nearer the time, with details where possible.