Wed, 26 Feb 2025 We’re thrilled to share a glimpse into the fascinating journey of our very own Dr. Martin Unwin, Principal Global Navigation Satellite Signals (GNSS) Engineer. On the left, we see Martin in 1985 the year Surrey Satellite was formed, enjoying a gap year before commencing his Physical Electronic Engineering BSc studies at Lancaster University. He joined us in 1991 as a PhD placement student researching into how a GNSS receiver could be used onboard a small satellite.

Today, Dr. Unwin has become a world-renowned expert in GNSS reflectometry – which uses GNSS signals reflected off the Earth’s surface to measure environmental parameters such as wind speed over the ocean, soil moisture, flooding, biomass and sea ice extent. You can see him on the right arriving at a recent IGARSS conference, where he presented progress on the HydroGNSS mission and exchanged knowledge with peers from around the globe.

"When I first started experimenting by receiving GNSS signals on spacecraft during my PhD studies, I realised this had potential to transform how satellites operate and navigate. But at the time I never imagined that the signals could be used as a radar source to measure our planet’s climate variables.” says Dr. Unwin. " Decades later, I'm still discovering new applications for received GNSS signals that continue to excite me just as much as they did when I was a student."

Thank you, Martin.. and here's to the next 40 years!