I Art You

Surrey Satellite Technology began in the 1970’s when the commercial space industry was all but non-existant. Co founder and CEO Professor Sir Martin Sweeting partnered with his university to create a company that began developing low cost satelites. The article from the Guardian has a fascinating look at the history of the company as well as the past present and future of micro satelites.

“According to SSTL, a large satellite might weigh more than 1,000kg, cost $500m and take years to develop. One of its micro-satellites, by comparison, would weigh 100kg, cost $10m and take 18 months to put together”.

There is some fear that these micro satelites could clutter the space around the earth, a fear that is more then warrented given the amount of debree already floating about space. With satelites costing a mear $10 million dollars many companies, and even a few wealthy individuals may be reserving their spot on the assembly line in the near future.