Guildford MP Angela visited Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd on Monday, meeting with Sir Martin Sweeting - pioneer of the Small Satellite - and seeing for herself the incredible facilities and expertise that goes into this cutting-edge industry.
The company started life in 1985 using emerging computer technology becoming more widely available at the time to begin providing an alternative to the large military-grade satellites being used by governments and large corporations.
Since then, the exploits of the team on Surrey Research Park have made news and become known across the globe. Its satellites now provide the means to many countries to provide global communications and geographic information.
The government is currently putting together its UK Space Strategy and Angela visited along with Buckingham MP Greg Smith to hear about the issues facing the industry and how government can help stimulate the international outlook of the UK space sector’s work.
Angela said: “It is tremendously exciting to visit SSTL today and to hear from Airbus, who are working with SSTL on projects.
“I’ve heard the comments made by the team about the British Space Industry – we are really lucky to be able to draw on the experience and knowledge of people like Sir Martin in putting the UK Space Strategy together and I know that colleagues will be listening.
“In Guildford, the challenges for hi-tech businesses are the same as for many others – we need homes people can afford and accessible places with good routes to work.
“My Plan for Guildford focuses on this housing and transport infrastructure. I will continue to put Guildford’s case for investment in these areas to ensure we can sustain SSTL and companies like it whose technology, designed and built in offices just down the road, is peering far into the universe.”