Download SSTL signs €30 million satellite imager contract for climate modelling

Press Release
Tuesday 3rd March 2009
SSTL signs €30 million satellite imager contract for climate modelling
British satellite manufacture, Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL), has signed a 30M€
contract with Astrium GmbH, Germany for the supply of a Multi-Spectral Imager (MSI) for
the European Space Agency’s (ESA) EarthCARE mission. Mr Bruno Le Stradic, Director of
Earth Observation and Science, Astrium Satellites and Dr Matt Perkins, SSTL’s CEO signed
the contract at SSTL’s Optical Payload Group facility in Sevenoaks, Kent.
The EarthCARE mission aims to improve the understanding of the Earth's radiation balance
and to minimize uncertainties in climate change prediction models by measuring
simultaneously the vertical structure and horizontal distribution of cloud and aerosol fields
together with outgoing radiation over all climate zones.
The contract demonstrates SSTL's expertise in providing high quality scientific instruments
which complement its world renowned small satellite capability. The SSTL-built MSI will use
new technologies developed in Europe to provide information on the horizontal structures of
clouds, such as cloud type and cover, and cloud optical and microphysical properties.
Operating from an orbit of around 400km, the MSI will image the Earth at 500-metres ground
sample distance (GSD) over a swath width of 150km. The instrument will provide spatial
context for the single-point measurements made by the radar and LIDAR systems, imaging
the Earth in 7 spectral bands: one visible, one near-infrared (IR), two short-wave IR and
three thermal IR.
The EarthCARE Mission is part of the Earth Observation Envelope Programme (EOEP) led
by ESA, to cover primary research objectives. The EarthCARE Mission will be the third
Earth Explorer Core Mission and will be implemented in collaboration with Japan Aerospace
Exploration Agency (JAXA) who will provide one of the core instruments.
SSTL is supported in the MSI programme by TNO from The Netherlands who are acting as
subcontractors to SSTL.
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About SSTL
Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) develops innovative technologies to change the
economics of space, delivering cost effective satellite missions within rapid timescales that
provide critical and valuable services to customers across the globe. 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 32 satellites launched.
SSTL employs almost 300 staff working on LEO, MEO, GEO and interplanetary missions,
turnkey satellite platforms and space-proven satellite subsystems and optical systems. The
Company also provides training and development programmes and consultancy services,
and performs studies for ESA, NASA and commercial customers related to platform design,
mission analysis and planning.
Based in Guildford, UK, SSTL is owned by EADS Astrium NV.
About Astrium
Astrium, a wholly owned subsidiary of EADS, is dedicated to providing civil and defence
space systems and services. In 2007, Astrium had a turnover of €3.5 billion and 12,000
employees in France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain and the Netherlands. Its three
main areas of activity are Astrium Space Transportation for launchers and orbital
infrastructure, Astrium Satellites for spacecraft and ground segment and its wholly owned
subsidiary Astrium Services for the development and delivery of satellite services.
EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2007, EADS
generated revenues of €39.1 billion and employed a workforce of more than 116, 000.
Notes to editor:
Supporting photography for this press release can be downloaded from the online press
room. These can be previewed in the printable pdf version of this press release, that can be
downloaded from the SSTL online press room :
http://www.ballard.co.uk/sstl/
SSTL Contact:
Audrey Nice, Surrey Satellite Technology Limited
Tel: +44 (0)1483 804200 Email: [email protected]
Press Contact:
Robin Wolstenholme, Ballard Communications Management (BCM)
Tel: +44 (0)1306 882288 Email: [email protected]
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