Surrey Satellite Technology, the long-established micro-satellite manufacturer with operations in Guildford and Bordon, is poised to send its 80th satellite into orbit this October, the company told reporters at the Farnborough International Airshow.
Local workforce and heritage
The company, which began as a University of Surrey spin-off and now employs about 350 space engineers, marked its 45th year in business this year. Its micro-satellites are typically around the size of a domestic washing machine and are built for low Earth orbit missions.
Why Farnborough matters
Surrey Satellite Technology's representatives said the Farnborough show is a key opportunity to meet international partners and government bodies, including the UK Space Agency, and to secure future contracts. The firm described interactions at the event as often the starting point for space missions that can take several years to materialise.
"We're here in the space zone in Hall 4 mainly because of the international delegations that will come here," said Andrew Greenhalgh, head of marketing.
Satellites above Hampshire
Most of the company's satellites operate in low Earth orbit. Current deployments are commonly at altitudes of around 500–600 kilometres, though some of their earlier assets have been placed higher. The firm confirmed that, while satellites remain in orbit for their operational lives, they eventually deorbit at the end of service.
- Company age: 45 years
- Employees: approximately 350 space engineers
- Satellites launched: 79 to date, with the 80th due in October
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Years in operation | 45 |
| Staff | ~350 engineers |
| Satellites launched | 79 (80th in October) |
| Typical orbit altitude | 500–600 km |
The planned October launch underlines Hampshire and Surrey’s role in the UK’s growing commercial space economy. For local residents and businesses, the company’s activity represents high-skilled employment and a concentration of manufacturing expertise in the county.
At a time when the national space sector is expanding, the presence of firms such as Surrey Satellite Technology at major aerospace events helps sustain international links and potential future missions — often conceived in conversations at shows like Farnborough and realised several years later.
