DIY Space Satellites

Tech start-up creates the first DIY Space Satellite Kit.

Tech start-up company, AmbaSat Ltd have created the first DIY Space Satellite Kit with support from the PAPI project. AmbaSat Ltd, based in North Yorkshire, was founded in 2019 by Martin Platt & Marcel Houtveen who boast 30 years’ experience in the environmental and IT industries. The AmbaSat brand was created to encapsulate their satellite work and apply their business and technology knowledge to this new space venture.

Case study: AmbaSat

Business growth

The AmbaSat-2 kit will be offered to the market in two versions: a) as a DIY kit, with self-assembly and coding and b) in a fully assembled product which is ready to launch. Once the kit is assembled and programmed, it will be launched on board a commercial rocket which will deploy the satellite in to Earth orbit and beyond. Data will be transmitted back to Earth, where it can be viewed on AmbaSat’s ‘mission control’ dashboard.

AmbaSat-2 is designed to promote science, technology, mathematics, engineering and environmental studies amongst school pupils, university students and other aspiring scientists. The data enables users to study the environmental impact of gases, radiation, carbon emissions, global warming, UV exposure, volatile organic exposure, humidity and temperature etc. In building the kit, users will also develop knowledge and skills in electronics, mathematics, IT, problem solving, engineering, communications and technology.

AmbaSat’s website
New Products

The PAPI project provided AmbaSat with a 40% grant to purchase machinery in order to build the new spacecraft. This new machinery allows AmbaSat to bring more of the production process in-house, rapidly create and build prototype parts and deliver opportunities to grow revenues, improve profitability and create a new engineering apprenticeship job within the company.

The company have launched their products to the market during 2020 which are available to buy via their website. The new machinery will also allow them to develop further products and continue to grow the company.

Check if you’re eligible for a grant

The PAPI grant enables us to rapidly accelerate our growth and deliver an innovative new product. STEM students, scientists and individuals now have the opportunity to build their own spacecraft, including rocket launch.

Martin Platt, CEO