Public Funding for Spur Electron Limited

This collaborative project between SSTL Ltd, Astrium Ltd and Spur Electron Ltd will accelerate the technology development of an innovative S-Band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) instrument. This low cost, yet extremely capable instrument is the key enabler for a SAR satellite (NovaSAR) that completely changes the economics of the radar remote sensing market and SAR satellite ownership. Once developed and proven, SSTL and Astrium aim to bring this product to market ahead of potential competitors and achieve a '1st mover' position. This would place the UK at the forefront of a new and exploitable global market generating income through export sales, service provision and applications development. Economic benefit in the UK is expected from jobs in upstream space infrastructure industry and supply chain and also from the creation of business opportunities in downstream service sectors and employment in the wider economy.