The UoSAT Spacecraft Programme

Spacecraft-designed, built and operated by traditional means-have proved extremely costly, thus limiting access to space to large organizations work within enormous budgets. The Amateur Satellite Service, over a period of 20 years, has demonstrated that small spacecraft can be built very inexpensively, and as a low-cost stimulus to technology. The UoSAT Programme at the University of Surrey (UK) has developed highly sophisticated yet inexpensive small satellites through adopting imaginative, cost effective spacecraft engineering techniques. Two UoSAT spacecraft, UoSAT 1 & 2, have been in orbit since 1981 and 1984 respectively supporting active space engineering research, space science and space education programmes associated with the amateur radio, educational and professional aerospace community worldwide.