Earth Observation Platforms
SSTL satellites are base-lined from previous missions and tailored to individual customer requirements. The design and manufacture of all these elements is undertaken in-house.
SSTL follows a heritage based design and implementation approach while at the same time providing performance matched to the mission requirements. Tried and tested units are flown alongside innovative, cutting edge units to provide the customer with the optimal mission solution, providing a reliable spacecraft that is a high performance solution.
In line with its heritage based approach, SSTL system product line revolves around a set of highly customisable "platforms". Inherent modularity in the design means that these can satisfy almost any mission requirement.
Entry Level Platforms: SSTL-100
Used in the highly successful Disaster Monitoring Constellation (DMC) which has achieved more than 10 years in-orbit heritage. The SSTL-100 provides the core capability to carry a wide range of payloads. Active variants include SSTL-100i 32m resolution (1st generation DMC) and SSTL-100i 22m resolution (2nd generation DMC) and SSTL-100 v3.0 15m resolution.
SSTL-100 datasheet
SSTL-100 v3.0 datasheet
High Performance Platform: SSTL-150
An enhanced version of the SSTL-100 platform with substantially improved payload capacity, improved propulsion and added high attitude agility. It is ideally suited for use of customer supplied payloads given its straightforward interface scheme. Active variants include SSTL-150i 4 Agile (Beijing-1),SSTL-150i 2.5m resolution agile and SSTL-150 RapidEye.
SSTL-150 datasheet
Very High Resolution Platforms: SSTL-300 & SSTL-300 S1
The natural evolution of the SSTL-150 platform, designed for highly demanding applications. The ability to point at several targets in one orbit is a valuable capability available from SSTL high performance platforms and the SSTL-300 platform can achieve a roll manoeuvre of 45 degrees from the centre axis in just 30 seconds.
Very flexible configuration, capable of supporting a large spectrum of implementations, payloads and structural configurations. Current variants are optimised for optical EO (from 2.5m to sub 1m resolutions), SAR and science EO payloads. A range of variants are available, including the SSTL-300 S1 agile sub-metre imaging system.
SSTL-300 datasheet
SSTL-300S1 datasheet
NovaSAR-S Synthetic Aperature Radar
NovaSAR-S combines our heritage SSTL-300 series avionics suite with a new structure and an innovative payload, developed in collaboration with EADS Astrium, that can be adapted to different frequency bands.
NovaSAR-S delivers all weather medium resolution Earth observation data night and day at a price similar to traditional optical missions, and significantly lower than any other SAR platform currently on the market, by leveraging highly efficient S-band solid state technology. The platform is sized for a range of low-cost launch options.
SSTL NovaSAR-S brochure
SSTL NovaSAR-S datasheet
Customised platforms
SSTL's platforms are based on a common core of avionics which are used alongside mission specific avionics that have been developed to provide customised solutions. The high degree of modularity and flexibility used allows new developments and techniques to be readily transferred from one platform to another as demand in size or capability changes.