The UK's Surrey Satellite Technology (SSTL) has been awarded a $35.2 million contract from Canada's MacDonald, Dettwiler & Associates to supply the spacecraft bus or platforms, and make integration and launch arrangements, for the German commercial Rapid Eye Earth observation programme. SSTL will design and construct five satellite platforms which will support the optical system provided by Jena Optronik of Germany. The 150kg (330lb) satellites will be launched into 620km (385 miles) Sun-synchronous orbits in 2007.
Source: Flight International
