Lifetime Achievement Award For SSTL’s Sir Martin Sweeting

Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. (SSTL) Chairman, Professor Sir Martin Sweeting, has won the 2008 Sir Arthur Clarke Lifetime Achievement Award. The “Arthurs” are the space industry’s Oscars and 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 honor 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 employs 270 staff across three sites in the south-east of England. The company achieved a £26 million turnover last year and the company is currently building 14 additional spacecraft at their manufacturing facilities in Guildford. This year’s awards were a poignant celebration of the life of Sir Arthur, who died on March 18th in his adopted home of Sri Lanka, at the age of 90. Based in Guildford, UK, SSTL is owned by the University of Surrey (85 percent), SSTL staff (5 percent), and SpaceX of the USA (10 percent).