Carbonite refers to a series of technology demonstration microsatellite missions by Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL). These missions focus on demonstrating low-cost, high-performance video imaging applications from space, utilizing commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) technologies. The satellites, including Carbonite-1 and Carbonite-2, are designed to deliver high-resolution images and color HD video for Earth observation, with potential applications in agriculture, deforestation monitoring, and disaster response. Partners include the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) and the Royal Air Force (RAF).
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SSTL’s Carbonite program delivered performance traditionally associated with larger and more expensive systems at a fraction of the cost and timescale.
SSTL’s Carbonite program demonstrated advanced space-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capability using adapted ground-based technologies and agile spacecraft engineering.
The CarbSAR satellite uses SSTL's Carbonite series design and integrates a deployable X-band SAR payload.
Carbonite is a family of 100 kg-class small satellite platforms that SSTL has been building in Guildford since the early 1980s.
The Carbonite satellite range is designed to be multi-sensor and features a standard set of core platform avionics configurable with high-resolution optical, medium-resolution multi-spectral, mid-wave infrared, or SAR payloads.
Carbonite is a 100 kg-class smallsat platform that SSTL has been building in Guildford, UK since the early 1980s.
SSTL developed missions including the Carbonite satellites, the NovaSAR S-band radar imaging satellite, and the RemoveDEBRIS space debris removal technology demonstrator.
The Carbonite smallsat range is multi-sensor and currently supports payload options including high-resolution optical, medium-resolution multi-spectral, mid-wave infrared, or SAR.
SSTL’s CarbSAR delivers high-resolution X-band Synthetic Aperture Radar imagery with SAR electronics embedded in the standard Carbonite platform avionics.
Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. signed a £22 million contract with Defence Equipment and Support on behalf of Space Command for the Carbonite+ spacecraft.
Ron Faith was chief executive officer of Datacastle Corp. when Carbonite acquired Datacastle in 2017.
Firefly signed a firm launch contract with Surrey Satellite Technology covering up to six Alpha launches from 2020 to 2022 beginning with SSTL’s Carbonite-4 technology demonstration satellite.
SSTL plans to start launching with Firefly beginning with the CARBONITE-4 mission in early 2020.
The Carbonite-2 demonstration mission was developed jointly by the Royal Air Force’s Rapid Capability Office and Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd.
Carbonite-2 is a 100-kilogram low-Earth orbit spacecraft that provides high-definition imagery and video from space.
Carbonite-2 took eight months from concept to launch and cost £4,500,000.