Sir Martin Sweeting G3YJO

SSETI Express - Statement by Sir Martin Sweeting G3YJO

Professor Sir Martin Sweeting G3YJO, CEO of SSTL (Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd) and Chair of AMSAT-UK has issued the following statement regarding SSETI Express

SSETI Express

I am very sorry to learn of the problems with the SSETI power system and I hope that it may yet recover at some time in the future so that we will have the satisfaction of seeing all the hard work operational in orbit.

Nevertheless, a major element of the project has been successful - that is the training and inspiration of the students involved - and at least signals were heard from
SSETI in orbit during the first day!

It was very apparent from the European Space Agency (ESA) and SSETI students that I met that they all greatly appreciated and admired the specialist experience and maturity that the AMSAT-UK members involved brought to the project - this has done much to raise the credibility of AMSAT within the ESA community. Well done!

We at Surrey have been through difficult times with our early spacecraft and so can empathise with the disappointment - however, I also urge patience and
perseverance as we recovered two of our satellites after several months hard work when everyone else had given them up as lost!

SSTL is also pleased to have been able to assist the SSETI project by arranging the launch on Cosmos that successfully placed the satellite in orbit.

Best 73
Martin G3YJO