SSTL satellite completes initial phase
Posted on 15 Aug 2014 and read 734 times
Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) recently released an image taken by a camera on board the TechDemoSat-1 satellite minutes after it separated from the Soyuz-2 launcher on 8 July; this shows a view of the Earth from space, with the spacecraft’s Antenna Pointing Mechanism in shot.
The inspection camera that took the ‘selfie’ image is mounted on the exterior of the spacecraft to monitor the behaviour of key mechanical payloads. Made by SSTL’s optics experts, it combines a colour camera with a high-performance machine vision lens. Both the camera and the lens were ruggedised to survive the vibration and shock loads during launch.
TechDemoSat-1 was part-funded by a grant from the UK’s Technology Strategy Board and the now-defunct South East England Development Agency. It carries eight separate payloads from UK academia and industry, intended to provide in-orbit validation for new technologies. SSTL has built and launched 43 satellites since 1981.