British satellite company to open local office
By Roger Fillion, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published August 18, 2008 at 2:02 p.m.
Updated August 18, 2008 at 2:02 p.m.
A British company that builds small satellites has opened U.S. operations in Douglas County and plans to employ up to 250 people over the next few years.
About three-quarters of those employees would work for Surrey Satellite Technology US in the Denver area, doing engineering and satellite manufacturing work.
The company has opened a small office in Douglas County and currently employs four.
It plans to build small communications and earth-observation satellites for commercial and government customers. The earth-observing satellites offer medium to high-resolution imagery.
The company’s British parent — Surrey Satellite Technology Limited — has been building satellites for commercial and government customers since 1981.
Airbus-maker European Aeronautic Defence & Space recently agreed to acquire SSTL for an estimated $80 million to $100 million.
Based in the British town of Guilford, SSTL employs nearly 300. It has built 27 satellites to date. Customers have included the U.S. Air Force, NASA and businesses.
“What we’re going to do is replicate the capability we have in Europe in the United States,” said John Paffett, CEO of the U.S. unit.
He added that the company plans to open an office in Washington D.C. and possibly one in California.
Surrey Satellite Technology US aims to win over additional U.S. customers through its presence here.
Company officials said they chose the Denver area because of the state’s large space work force as well as the many companies involved in the remote sensing industry, including commercial spy satellite companies DigitalGlobe and GeoEye.
Several military facilities also are located in the state. Buckley Air Force Base in Aurora, for example, is home to satellite monitoring and communications equipment.
“This area has always been the remote sensing capital of the United States,” said Kevin Little, director of business development for Surrey Satellite Technology US.
The company expects to hire engineers and program managers.
It’s satellites typically weigh less than 2,200 pounds. Five of the company’s earth-observing satellites are scheduled to be launched aboard a single rocket later this month by a German company, RapidEye AG.
[PS]fillionr@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-2467
Featured
-
Legislature Blog
Read live updates from the opening of the 2009 legislative session.
-
Rocky multimedia
The news comes alive in our videos and slide shows. Catch up on what's happening today.
-
Who's next?
Complete coverage of the Broncos' search for a new coach.
-
Rocky year in photos
View an audio slide show of staff selections from 2008.
-
Winter Escapes
Your insider’s guide to the copious joys of the coolest season.
-
Sam Adams' Open Mic
Open Mic: Two-man advantage with Avs
-
Shanahan's career
See photos from Mike Shanahan's career as Broncos coach.
-
12 days of Drew
Look back at the year that has been with Drew Litton.
-
A dream fulfilled
A Rocky Mountain News and MediaStorm production
Post your comment
Registration is required. Click here to create your free user account, or login below.
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.