SSTL’s Carbonite satellite. Photo: SSTL

Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) has won a new contract from the UK Space Command worth 22 million pounds ($28.85 million) to build a for a 150 kg satellite based on SSTL’s Carbonite+. The company announced the award on April 4.

The program is called Project TYCHE, and it is the first satellite procurement for the Minerva program. Minerva, announced as part of the U.K.’s new Defence Space Strategy, is a key enabler in the development of the foundation for a U.K. space-based intelligence surveillance & reconnaissance (ISR) constellation under programme ISTARI. Delivered under a three year build program, the TYCHE mission will be compatible with both horizontal as well as vertical launch. TYCHE will be operated from SSTL’s Spacecraft Operations Center in Guildford.

“The Minerva program provides the route to use space to be fully interoperable and able to share data with our close allies. This is the crucial first step in delivering this capability and I’m delighted that we’re working together with U.K. companies to remain at the forefront of innovation in space,” Defence Procurement Minister Jeremy Quin said in a statement.