Starting in 1979 with research at the University of Surrey, Sir Martin pioneered highly capable modern small satellites utilizing consumer electronics to change the economics of space that laid the foundations of the present commercial ‘Newspace’ industry worldwide. He is widely regarded internationally as the ‘father of small satellites’.
In 1985, he founded a University spin-off company (SSTL) that has designed, built, launched and operated in orbit 65 nano, micro and mini-satellite missions – as well as 34 GNSS payloads for the European Galileo constellation.
As Chairman of the Surrey Space Centre and a distinguished professor at the University of Surrey, Sir Martin leads a team of academic faculty and doctoral researchers investigating advanced small satellite concepts and techniques, with a particular interest in space robotics for in-orbit debris removal and the assembly of large space telescopes. He has supervised over 200 graduated PhD students and has over 350 publications.
The relationship between the Surrey Space Centre and SSTL is an exemplar of real academic-commercial synergy.
Sir Martin is Fellow of the Royal Society, the Royal Academy of Engineering, the IET and the Institute of Physics. Knighted by HM The Queen, he has been identified as one of the 20 most influential engineers in the UK.
