Yorkshire tech firm develops satellite kit with university backing

North Yorkshire technology start-up AmbaSat has developed a DIY space satellite kit with support from the University of York’s PAPI (Product and Process Innovation) project.

Founded in 2019 by Martin Platt & Marcel Houtveen who boast 30 years’ experience in the environmental and IT industries, the company designs and manufactures Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Space Satellite Kits which contain all the components needed to build a miniature space satellite. Having developed its first kit, the AmbaSat-1, the team is now working on AmbaSat-2, a more advanced spacecraft with enhanced functionality.

AmbaSat-2 comes with a full HD on-board camera, capable of transmitting near real-time pictures to Earth from space. It will also have the ability to be deployed beyond Earth’s orbit, with planned missions to orbit the Moon and beyond.

The PAPI project provided AmbaSat with a 40 per cent grant to purchase machinery in order to build the new spacecraft. This new machinery will enable AmbaSat to bring more of the production process in-house, rapidly create and build prototype parts and generate opportunities to grow revenues, improve profitability and create a new engineering apprenticeship jobs.

Martin Platt, co-founder and chief executive at AmbaSat, said: “The PAPI grant enables us to rapidly accelerate our growth and deliver an innovative new spacecraft product combined with an affordable entry into Space. STEM students, scientists and individuals now have the opportunity to build their very own spacecraft, at a cost of less than £500 for the complete package, including rocket launch.”

PAPI is a grants scheme managed by the University of York and is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund.