The Satellite Engineering Centre (SEC) aims to be a centre of excellence in satellite engineering research capable of spearheading the development of innovative space technologies for satellite systems designs. SEC was set up using internal funding after NTU has successfully developed a Merlion communication payload and launched it in the Surrey-built UoSat-12 mini-satellite in 1999.

In year 2001, SEC has teamed up with DSO National Laboratories to establish a joint centre CREST (Centre for Research in Satellite Technologies) under a Memorandum of Understanding signed between both parties on 1 Dec 2001.

The research focus of the centre covers
• The design and development of low earth orbit (LEO) micro-satellite missions
• Distributed satellite ground system designs for mission control, operation and launch support
• Research in space science, technologies and applications for future micro-satellite and educational nano-satellite missions

The joint NTU-DSO X-Sat microsatellite mission and the NTU satellite mission control ground station are major projects in SEC. A DSTA-funded project entitled “Satellite Formation Flying for Distributed Sensing” is currently in progress.

SEC has completed the following projects since its inception
• Task force leader in UN-ESCAP Regional Working Group on Space Technology and Applications to develop a Low Cost Mobile Ground station prototype model (completed in 2000)
• Ku-Band Satellite Link Simulator Project (2000)
• F easibility Study of LEO Based Area Communication Network System (2002)
• Project on the Merlion Communication Payload for the UoSAT-12 mini-satellite mission (2000)

SEC is equipped with a Class 5K clean room facility for assembly and integration of Space Level Electronics and Assembly.