Organised by the British Interplanetary Society, the awards celebrate outstanding achievements and contributions to the UK space sector. It was an honour for the HydroGNSS team simply to be shortlisted for one of the prestigious 'Arthurs', so to come away with the award was a particularly proud moment.
HydroGNSS is ESA's first Earth Observation Scout mission, designed to demonstrate how smaller, more affordable satellites can deliver valuable scientific data. As prime contractor, SSTL designed, built and delivered two 75kg satellites, launched successfully in November 2025, each carrying an innovative GNSS Reflectometry (GNSS-R) payload. By measuring GPS and Galileo signals reflected from the Earth's surface, the satellites are providing new insights into important climate variables, including soil moisture, flooding, freeze-thaw conditions and vegetation biomass.
The award recognises the dedication and expertise of the SSTL team, alongside the close collaboration with ESA and the wider mission partners that has made HydroGNSS possible.
Andy Palfreyman, SSTL's Head of Institutional Business, commented:
"It was a real pleasure and an honour for those of us attending to accept this award on behalf of everyone involved in HydroGNSS. It's wonderful recognition for a team that has worked so hard, and for a mission that shows just what can be achieved with innovative small satellites."
The awards ceremony took place on Tuesday 27 October at the magnificent Royal Air Force Club in Piccadilly, London. It was a thoroughly enjoyable gala dinner in beautiful surroundings, and a welcome opportunity to celebrate the achievements of colleagues and friends from across the UK space community.
It was a particular pleasure for the SSTL team to be joined on the evening by ESA colleagues Jean-Pascal Lejault and Massimiliano Pastena, and to share this special moment with two people who have played an important part in the mission.
A memorable evening, and a lovely recognition of the people and partnerships behind HydroGNSS.
Find out more about HydroGNSS
For those interested in learning more about the mission and its scientific applications, the 3rd ESA Scout HydroGNSS User Workshop takes place on 20 November 2026. Aimed at current and prospective users of HydroGNSS data, the workshop will explore the mission's measurements, products and opportunities for scientific research. Participants can attend in person at ESA-ECSAT or join online.
Find out more about the workshop.