UK ‘proving’ satellite
October 18, 2010
The UK is going to develop a satellite to trial innovative space technologies. The idea is components and instruments flying on TechDemoSat (TDS) can prove their worth and go on to win substantial international business.
Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) will lead the project. Participants are likely to include a novel instrument to measure the state of the sea and another to track ships from orbit.
The core mission design of TDM is being funded with a grant of £770,000 from the UK government’s Technology Strategy Board (TSB) and the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA). If all goes well, a further £2,730,000 will be released to move the project into the build and test phase.