Surrey NanoSystems and University of Surrey partner to combat satellite reflectivity and protect astronomy

Surrey NanoSystems has joined forces with scientists at the University of Surrey, led by astrophysicist Dr Noelia Noel, to tackle the increasing issue of satellite brightness, which threatens ground-based astronomical research.

Credit: Joshua Rozells

More than 8,000 low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites already orbit Earth and projections estimate a rise to 60,000 by 2030, partly driven by the development of mega-constellations. The rate of growth means the issue of light reflecting from satellites back to Earth is pressing for astronomers and star gazers, as images from the Vera C Rubin Observatory in Chile have highlighted.

To combat this problem, satellite operators have begun experimenting with mitigation strategies including dark coatings and changes to satellite position, though the negative impact on ground-based measurement persists. Surrey NanoSystems, with a heritage in ultra-black technologies, have developed an innovative new solution: Vantablack 310 is a handleable, customer applied coating, resistant to the challenging LEO environment.

From left to right: Professor Keith Ryden, James Whitfield, Astha Astha, Dr Keiran Clifford, Dr Noelia Noël and Luca Ferrian

The technology will be trialled on Jovian 1, the first satellite mission from JUPITER – the Joint Universities Programme for In-Orbit Training, Education and Research. The mission, scheduled to launch in 2026, will carry payloads from the Universities of Surrey, Portsmouth and Southampton, AMSAT-UK, and one designed, built and tested by students from the three universities, giving them invaluable hands-on space industry experience.

One side of the shoebox-sized CubeSat will be coated with Vantablack 310, marking the first UK-led initiative to explore solutions for reducing satellite brightness. The initiative aims to not only improve space sustainability but also demonstrate the efficacy of Vantablack 310 as a hull-darkening solution. Researchers from the University of Surrey are developing ways to evaluate the experiment from Earth.

The proliferation of satellite constellations is expected to bring huge societal benefit in technology areas including global communication and remote sensing. Unfortunately, the current brightness of these satellites severely disrupts ground-based astronomy.

Our latest coating technology, Vantablack 310, offers super-black performance across a wide range of viewing angles, while remaining robust to the challenging LEO environment. We’re proud to be working with our partners at the University of Surrey to deliver innovations in the satellite sector, ensuring sustainable and equitable access to a night sky for all.
Dr Keiran Clifford, Senior Technologist and project lead at Surrey Nanosystems

Studies show that satellite mega-constellations could increase sky brightness by up to 1% in the worst-affected regions, posing a serious threat to astronomical observations and dark sky preservation. Our project directly tackles that challenge by exploring innovative ways to reduce satellite reflectance. It brings together key areas of Surrey’s expertise — astrophysics, space engineering, and nanotechnology — with Surrey NanoSystems, which itself spun out of the University’s Advanced Technology Institute. Astha Astha, Postgraduate Research Student

The relationship between Surrey NanoSystems and the University of Surrey is deeply rooted in research and innovation. As a spinout company in 2006, Surrey NanoSystems leveraged the University's expertise in nanomaterials and advanced manufacturing techniques to develop its groundbreaking Vantablack® technologies.

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Notes to editors

For more information about Vantablack® and its applications, visit our website www.vantablack.co.uk
For more information about the Jovian-1 mission, visit www.spacesouthcentral.com/jupiter
About Surrey NanoSystems Ltd.
UK based Surrey NanoSystems, the creator of the Vantablack® range of super-black coatings, was founded in 2006 as a spinout from the University of Surrey. First released in 2014, the original Vantablack® coating captured the world’s attention as the darkest material ever created, absorbing 99.965% of UV-IR. Today, the technology has developed into a range of super-black materials in the Vantablack® family. These coatings are used across a wide range of industries including space & defence, automotive sensing, architecture, camera systems, luxury goods and is even used by renowned artist Sir Anish Kapoor.

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Featured Academics

Dr Noelia Noel

Senior Lecturer, PhD in Astrophysics

Prof Keith Ryden

Head of Surrey Space Centre, Professor in Space Engineering

Astha Astha

Postgraduate Research Student

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