United Kingdom operational

SSTL

Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL) is a pioneering UK small satellite manufacturer founded in 1985 as a University of Surrey spin-off, now owned by Airbus Defence and Space.

Headquarters
Guildford, United Kingdom
Founded
1985
Type
commercial
sstl.co.uk
Founded
1985
Headquarters
Guildford, United Kingdom
Ownership
Private
Quick Facts
Country
United Kingdom
Founded
1985
Type
commercial
Status
operational

About SSTL

Updated 2026-09-05

Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL) is a pioneering UK small satellite manufacturer founded in 1985 as a University of Surrey spin-off, now owned by Airbus Defence and Space. Based in Guildford, SSTL has been a world leader in small satellite design, build, test, and operations for over 40 years with 74 satellite missions completed. The company specializes in small satellite platforms, customer training programmes, and complete satellite missions.

SSTL's Lunar Pathfinder spacecraft, launching in 2025, will provide affordable communications services to lunar missions via S-band and UHF links, enabling polar and far-side missions lacking direct Earth line of sight. MULA (Multi-Spectral Unit for Land Assessment) for the Philippine Space Agency, an SSTL True Colour 130kg platform with wide-swath multi-spectral imaging, is scheduled for 2026 launch. SSTL is building second and third Mid Wave Infra-Red thermal imaging satellites for Satellite Vu, measuring building heat signatures to derive insights about emissions, energy use, and insulation.

Team

  • Andrew David Cawthorne director · source
  • Katherine Edda Escott director · source
  • Christoph Mohr director · source
  • Marc, Dr Steckling director · source
  • Martin Nicholas, Sir Sweeting director · source
  • Lee James Wilson director · source

Signals

Verification
Verified 2026-09-05

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Frequently asked about SSTL

Quick answers to the questions readers most often search for.

When was SSTL founded?
SSTL was founded in 1985 in United Kingdom.
Where is SSTL headquartered?
SSTL is headquartered in Guildford, United Kingdom.
What does SSTL do?
Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL) is a pioneering UK small satellite manufacturer founded in 1985 as a University of Surrey spin-off, now owned by Airbus Defence and Space. Based in Guildford, SSTL has been a world leader in small satellite design, build, test, and operations for over 40 years with 74 satellit…
Is SSTL a public or private company?
SSTL is a privately held company and is not listed on any stock exchange.
What sector does SSTL operate in?
SSTL works in satellite manufacturing, Small satellites and Earth observation, plus 3 other space-industry sectors.

Data Accuracy Notice: Information about SSTL is compiled from publicly available sources including company websites, press releases, regulatory filings, and industry reports. Data is reviewed periodically but may not reflect the most recent developments.

Matched to Companies House, OpenCorporates · data pass September 5, 2026
Editorial owner: Dr. Donovan, Editor-in-Chief Company representatives may submit corrections This page does not constitute an endorsement or affiliation Learn about our data methodology