SSTL’s Sir Martin Sweeting receives lifetime achievement award
Thursday 3 April 2008
Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) Chairman, Professor Sir Martin Sweeting, has won the 2008 Sir Arthur Clarke Lifetime Achievement Award.Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) Chairman, Professor Sir Martin Sweeting, has won the 2008 Sir Arthur Clarke Lifetime Achievement Award.
The 'Arthurs' – the space industry’s Oscars - pay tribute to those who have worked for the advancement of space exploration. Sir Martin, knighted in 2002, is recognised across the world for his pioneering development of small satellites which use low-cost engineering techniques.
On receiving the award, Sir Martin commented: "It is a great honour to receive this award and especially in the month during which Sir Arthur sadly passed away. As a teenager, I was captivated by Sir Arthur’s books and particularly the film '2001: A space odyssey' which inspired me to strive for a career in space."
SSTL, formed by the University of Surrey in 1985 to exploit the commercial small satellite market, has launched 27 small satellite missions for a range of applications including Earth observation, communication and navigation. Today, SSTL is the world’s premier small satellite supplier, employing 270 staff across three sites in the south-east of England. The company achieved a £26 million turnover last year and is currently building a further 14 spacecraft at their manufacturing facilities in Guildford.
The awards were presented at a black-tie dinner on 29 March, which closed the 2008 UK Space Conference at Charterhouse. The glittering occasion was attended by many of the top names in the space community, including Joe Engle, Astronaut & X-15 Test Pilot with NASA, David Southwood, Director of Science, European Space Agency and Sir Patrick Moore made a video appearance.
Nominations for awards are submitted by the public and the winners are voted for by representatives of the space industry, research institutions and universities, and space-related organisations.
This year’s awards were a poignant celebration of the life of Sir Arthur, who died on 18 March in his adopted home of Sri Lanka, at the age of 90.
SSTL develops innovative technologies to change the economics of space, delivering cost effective satellite missions within rapid timescales. The company is a world leader in the design, manufacture and operation of high performance small satellites with experience gained over more than 25 years and 27 missions launched.
SSTL employs 270 staff working on LEO, GEO and interplanetary missions, turnkey satellite platforms and space-proven satellite subsystems and optical systems. The company also provides know-how transfer and training programmes and consultancy services, and performs studies for ESA, NASA and commercial customers related to platform design, mission analysis and planning.
Based in Guildford, SSTL is owned by the University of Surrey (85%), SSTL staff (5%), and SpaceX of the USA (10%).
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