It was built by Surrey Satellite Technology, who operated it via DMC International Imaging on behalf of the British National Space Centre and later the UK Space Agency.

It was launched alongside other DMC satellites on 27 September 2003, and retired from service in November 2011.

As well as carrying remote sensing imaging sensors, the satellite also carries experimental payloads: the CLEO Cisco router in Low Earth Orbit, an experiment demonstrating GNSS reflectometry, and a water resistojet propulsion system.

[5] In November 2010, nearing the end of its operational life, UK-DMC was placed into a lower orbit.

[6] After 8 years in orbit, daily operations of the satellite ceased in November 2011.