University of Surrey

The University of Surrey, based in Guildford, England, established one of the world's most influential small satellite research groups: the Surrey Space Centre (SSC). SSC grew out of the university's satellite engineering work in the 1980s, which also spawned Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL), a pioneer of the commercial small satellite industry.

SSC continues as an academic research center focused on advanced small satellite technologies, working closely with SSTL engineers on missions that push the boundaries of low-cost, high-performance spacecraft. Its best-known student mission, STRaND-1, launched in 2013, was the world's first satellite to use a smartphone (a Google Nexus One) as a central avionics and experimental computing payload alongside its primary flight computer.

Today, Surrey Space Centre carries out research across satellite navigation, robotics, in-orbit servicing, and small satellite platform design, training the next generation of space engineers within one of the UK's most established university-industry space ecosystems.