Micro-satellite developer profiled

The U.K.'s Guardian (7/7, Milner) profiles Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL), formerly part of Surrey University, which specializes in "micro-satellites." The company plans to have five of its satellites sent into orbit this month, where they will be "capable of collecting, among other things, evidence of agricultural fraud, illegal oil dumping, the impact of natural disasters and likely deposits of minerals." Currently, one of the company's "micro-satellites" can "weigh 100kg, cost $10 million and take 18 months to put together," and "the drive to get ever smaller continues." The Guardian notes, "More than a decade ago work started on developing a satellite the size of a football," and SSTL is now developing "coffee mug-sized" satellites, with the eventual goal of creating "a satellite on a chip." The article details the history of the company, noting that Surry University "recently decided to sell out to Astrium."