Only one day to go for  http://www.tedxsalford.com/ tomorrow at  MediacityUK

If you are in to astronauts you may be interested in this. I received confirmation yesterday that Apollo 7 astronaut Walter Cunningham‘s visit to Pontefract, Yorkshire in March has had to be cancelled. Apollo 17’s Harrison Schmitt in October is still on.

My interviews with astronauts on this blog during their visits to the UK including  episode 12 Buzz Aldrin Apollo 11, Episode 43 Richard Gordon Apollo 12, episode 28 Fred Haise Apollo 13,  episode 35 Ed Mitchell Apollo 14 and episode 45 Al Worden Apollo 15.

Looking forward to the mystery astronaut at TEDXFalford tomorrow – even if it is one of the above.

BBC’s Stargazing Live from Jodrell Bank in Cheshire is fast become an annual astronomical highlight for the amateur astronomical community not only the UK but throughout the world. Anyone can join in and it is free. For a pretty comprehensive list of  astronomical societies throughout the country and abroad, see the Federation of Astronomical Societies  website.  Here is a pick of a few Stargazing Live and other astronomy related events.

* * * Stargazing Events * * *

Find Stargazing Live activities near you. Enter your postcode here.

Tuesday 17th January

Amatuer Astronomy Centre. Todmorden

Wednesday 18th January

Salford Astronomical Society Observatory Open night

Wythenshawe Park Horticulture Centre, Wythenshawe

Heaton Park Astronomy Group Manchester

Thursday 19th January

Huddersfield Observatory, Huddersfield

===========================================

* * * Non Stargazing astronomical events * * *

Thursday 19th January 2012 Manchester Astronomical Society. “Panspermia”: Prof Chandra Wickramasinghe
(Professor and Director of the Cardiff Centre for Astrobiology, Cardiff University Honorary Professor, University of Glamorgan)

Friday 2oth January Liverpool Astronomical Society “Manchester’s first Rocket Man” by Kevin Kilburn

Saturday 21st January : West Midland Space day

Saturday 28th January TEDx  in Salford. Astronaut listed as one of the speaker. Not free but tickets available

Tuesday 24th January. Manchester Phil and Lit Society. Talk about John Dalton. Manchester Business School

CANCELLED: March 9th and 10th meet Astronaut Walt Cunningham. Not free but tickets available. Apollo 17 Harrison Schmitt will be coming in October 2012.

Saw the film “First Orbit”? It was free. Now a chance to support it. Just $10 will do it.

It appears that the public support for the statue to come to Manchester is not an issue once people get to know about the campaign. Half way target of 500 was met on Thursday last week. My thanks to all of you.

Another name, Professor Carl Murray  a scientist working on the Cassini probe currently orbiting Saturn, was added to the open letter this weekend.

The campaign has sufficient public support what it now requires is a sponsor to make it happen. It was clear from the beginning that public funds would not be appropriate in the current economic climate. Despite this, Manchester City Council continues with its essential engagement even though it cannot assist financially.

In his comment, Barrie D. Eckford  says “I too would wish to sign the appeal & should a public subscription be declared, then I would gladly add a small monitory amount.” This is very welcome Barrie and it may come to that.. but not yet.  As one of the now 500+ strong supporters, what do you think? Scroll down and read Barrie’s comment in full and add yours here.

Another Radio Interview, thanks to Andy Crane of BBC Radio Manchester is helping to publicise the campaign.

Radio Manchester 1st December 2011 Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Now that we are in December, this is the home run. If all goes to plan, we should know, one way or another, before the end of the month. I’ll keep you posted.

The campaign to bring the statue of Yuri Gagarin continues to attract support and now has almost 400 supporters who have signed the petition.  Over the  last few weeks  two dozen individuals, many of whom you will recognise, have added their significant weight to the campaign and signed the open letter below.

The names include Sir Patrick Moore from Sky at Night, Professor Andre Geim, a Nobel Prize winning Physicist from Manchester University, and a guy who went to the Moon – astronaut Al Worden, the Command Module Pilot  on Apollo 15.  In the coming weeks, I expect to add to the list of hyperlinked names below.

If you have not yet signed the on-line petition, you can do it here.

* * *

An open letter to those charged with making the decision on where the Statue of Yuri Gagarin will be relocated in 2012

To mark the 50th anniversary the first human spaceflight, a statue of Yuri Gagarin was unveiled by Gagarin’s daughter Elena in London on 14^th July 2011, but planning restrictions require that it is relocated by July 2012.   The most appropriate new destination is Manchester.

Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin from the Soviet Union, travelling higher and faster than any human before him, made the world’s first human spaceflight on 12^th April 1961. Three months later, 12^th July, during a short but heartfelt ceremony in a congested boardroom of a union office in Manchester, Gagarin was made the very first honorary member of the Amalgamated Union of Foundry Workers.

Prior to joining the Soviet Air Force Gagarin had successfully completed his training in foundry work. He celebrated his working class roots by accepting the invitation from the union and visited a foundry in Trafford Park, the world’s first and largest industrial estate. Despite the driving rain, the people of Manchester lined his route to wave and welcome him. Standing in his open top Bentley, soaked, he waved back.

This diminutive young spaceman was the first human to experience the alien sensation of weightlessness whilst circling the Earth at five mile a second. It was an extremely hazardous adventure from which he himself did not think he would return safely. But he did, and overnight became the twentieth century’s first global superstar. But he was a Russian, a Communist and potentially the enemy in the heart of Europe in the midst of the Cold War.  In every speech, accompanied by his tenacious but sincere smile, he repeated his appeal for peace, collaboration and friendship. He brought fresh hope and optimism to a population recovering from two World Wars, who feared the horror of another.

Recalling his visit to a foundry in Manchester several months after his visit to the city, Gagarin said “the firm handshakes of my fellow workers in the moulding shop were dearer to me than many awards”.  I think if Gagarin could choose, he would prefer the statue to be re-sited midst the working class traditions and people of Manchester.

Gurbir Singh 14/11/2011 (astrotalkuk.org)

* * *

Below are some of the signatories who support the campaign for the statue to be relocated in Manchester in 2012.

Sir Patrick Moore – Presenter of Sky at Night and Author

Al Worden – Apollo 15 Command Module Pilot

Professor Andre Geim – Physicist (Nobel Prize for Physics 2010)

Reg Turnill – Former BBC Journalist

Dr Chris Riley – Writer and Film Maker

Piers Bizony – Author

Professor Jim Al-Khalili – Physicist, Broadcaster & Author

Dr Heather Couper – Astronomer, TV Presenter and Author

Nigel Henbest – Consultant, TV Producer and Author

Captain Eric Brown – Test pilot

Dr Allan Chapman – Historian at University of Oxford & Author

Francis French – Author

Colin Burgess – Author

Dave and Leslie Wright – British Rocketry Oral History Programme

Professor Andrew Jenks – Author

Nick Spall – Space writer

Professor Asif Siddiqi – Author

Mike Little – WordPressing co-founding developer

Michael Cassutt – Author

Richard Evans – Science Fiction Author

Professor Jim Aulich – Visual Culture at MMU

David J Shayler – Author

Professor Sergei Utyuzhnikov – University of Manchester

Professor Malcolm Heath – University of Leeds

Professor Carl Murray – Scientist on Cassini probe currently orbiting Saturn

 * * *

Yuri Gagarin in London and Manchester

A Smile that Changed the World?

The story of the World’s first spaceman’s five days in the UK 11th – 15th July 1961

Reviews

London Society Journal “This fascinating and well-researched book recounts the legendary Soviet cosmonaut’s visit to the UK in the summer of 1961 at the height of the Cold War, setting it within the context of scientific advance, the political climate in the UK, and Gagarin’s relationship with his political masters in Russia. A timeline is included, as well as much new information from personal interviews with those who met Gagarin, by all accounts a personally charming man who found himself in a difficult and charged political situation.”
Amazon.co.uk “This is a long overdue book.  The memories of the visit to Manchester are great, neighbours of mine were taken by their mother to see Gagarin and that started a wonderful conversation ‘down memory lane’. I am not sure why it has to be ‘London and Manchester’ – better to be Manchester and London. Manchester asked him over, London did not quite know what to do with him as they were in the middle of a cold war with Russia. To the workers over there and here, they were workers and amazed by what Gagarin did…..we had nothing like it here. I think it’s a great book.”

Colin Burgess October 25, 2011. This unpretentious but highly informative book not only reveals details about the hurriedly-arranged visit of the world’s first spaceman to England, but gives us a fascinating insight into his personality. Gagarin’s own working life began in a foundry, so he found much in common with the people he wanted to meet, and subsequently got to meet. This was a time clouded in international suspicions, when the Soviet Union was regarded as the philosophical antithesis of the Western world, and yet this remarkably modest and simple man charmed everyone he met with his warm smile and friendly manner. His visit took place in less than a week, and yet this was a truly extraordinary and largely forgotten event that needed to be recorded, and has finally been accomplished in this fine book.”

To mark the 50th anniversary of the world’s first spaceflight  by cosmonaut Yuri  Gagarin on 12th April 1961, a statue of Gagarin made in Russia was unveiled in London in on 14th July this year. The limited planning permission means it must move by July 2012.

Gagarin came to Britain because he was invited by the Manchester based Amalgamated Union of Foundry Workers. Prior to joining the Soviet air force, Gagarin had trained as a foundryman.

An online petition to bring the  statue from London to Manchester in 2012  is now live. Read more about this campaign and sign the petition here.

Ken Willoughby continues to bring the adventure of spaceflight to Yorkshire.

Sy Liebergot was the Deputy Flight Director on Apollo 4, the first launch of the mighty Saturn V. He was on duty throughout the Apollo, Skylab and the Apollo Soyuz test programs too.

Friday September 9th 19:30 – 01:00 Dinner and talk :  Tickets = £60 each. Now sold out
Photo session with Sy 18:30 – 19:15 = £10.
These will be signed after the dinner (Book & CD available @ £15)

Rogerthorpe Manor Hotel,
Thorpe Lane,
Badsworth,
Pontefract,
West Yorkshire
WF9 1AB
(01977 643839 – ops@rogerthorpemanor.co.uk )

Saturday: 17:15-17:50-photo with Sy.
18:00-19:00-talk £10.00 (pay on the door.)
19:30-21:00-signing of books/photo’s

Carleton Community High School
Carleton Green, Carleton Road, Pontefract,
West Yorkshire WF8 3NW.
Tickets – £10 each (Under 16′s = £5.)
One free autograph per person  (Single signature includes “Apollo EECOM”)
Additional items- £10 (Single signature includes “Apollo EECOM”)
Book Purchase: £15 with single signature includes “Apollo EECOM” and CD

* * *

Tickets – Stamped address envelope to:
Ken Willoughby, 11 Hardistry Drive, Pontefract, West Yorkshire, WF8 4BU.
Cheques payable to Apollo 13.
ken.willoughby@btinternet.com
01977 795535

Saturday: 17:15-17:50-photo with Sy.
18:00-19:00-talk (pay on the door.)
19:30-21:00-signingof books/photo’s.

Links to audio and video below.

The 50^th anniversary of Yuri Gagarin’s UK visit was marked by the unveiling of an aluminium statue of Gagarin, an exact copy of the one outside Lyubertsy Technical School number 10 where Gagarin started his training as a foundryman. The statue, a gift from the Russian federal space agency Roscosmos to the British Council, is located outside the British Council Offices in London but only for one year.

This episode is a collection of some of the speeches and my short interviews during the three events on 14^th July. They were the unveiling of the statue in the morning, the lunchtime reception at the Russian Embassy and the evening reception back at the British council.  So, in order of appearance here is a list of all the contributors in this episode

Unveiling of the statue ceremony was opened by

1. Martin Davidson, Chief Executive of the British Council
2. Vladimir Popovkin Head of Roscosmos (speaking in Russian but with a translator)
3. Yuri Gagarin’s oldest daughter – Elena Gagarina unveiled the statue
4. Derek Pullen who provides a brief description of how the statue came from Moscow to London.

Two recordings during the lunchtime Reception at the Russian Embassy where incidentally, Gagarin spent each of his four nights in the UK

1. The Russian Ambassador Alexander Yakovenko,
2. Cosmonaut Sergei Krikalev, who holds the record for the longest time spent in space

British Council Evening reception

1. Nataliya Koroleva. Chief Designer Sergei Korolev’s daughter. Who gave me a gentle rebuke whilst looking through my book “Yuri Gagarin in London and Manchester” and seeing a photograph of Wernher von Braun and Herman Oberth but not of her father!
2. The episode ends with Ambassador Yakovenko briefly recalling his recent meeting with the queen.

Korolev’s daughter, grand daughter and great grand daughter

Yri Gagarin State in Londond Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

I had watched the channel 4 documentary on Saturday evening and inevitably ended up comparing it to the one on BBC last night. The ad breaks aside, the BBC’s version came out on top because of the focus on people, perhaps because of Kevin Fong’s connection to the shuttle program. The personal emotional contributions from the NASA administrator, people who will soon out of  job and the touching discussion between Piers Sellers and three other astronauts discussing frankly the real danger of spaceflight  to life (the throttle-up and mach 19 moments). I also found it was quantitatively more informative (decent rate of 28,000ft per minute,  home-made sandwiches, a minimum of 1000 landing approaches and the first view of the high res digital camera – described by its operator).

An odd thought arose whilst I was watching the close-out crew doing their thing. They get pretty up-close and personal but they were all male and not all astronauts are.

Apart from their technical skills and professionalism, I wonder how much of  the “spirit” of the BBC guides the program makers? Like the Shuttle the BBC itself is a marvel of our times.  An excellent documentary -well done all.

On a personal note..

Almost exactly 21 years ago (28th July 1990) I was in Florida working on my Private Pilots Licence. The variable weather in the UK was just too variable and I went out there for a month.

I was training at an airfield in Titusville, a short distance from Merritt Island where the 3 mile long Shuttle Landing Facility is located. It is part of the John F. Kennedy Space Center.

On a tip from a local pilot, I sought and got clearance (with restrictions – minimum altitude 1000ft and remain 5000ft west) from air traffic traffic controller  to fly along the runway. At that time I only had completed my solo but not my final test!

This 3 minute video is from  21 year old VHS tape! Filmed on board Cessna 152 (N49010) by Bill Benson and my instructor in Florida was a brit -  Gary Evans from AirwiseUK Ltd who had also gone to Florida for the flying friendly weather.

Here is a quick summary

• Episode 46 of Astrotalkuk on my podcast has about my book, audio and video testimony from those who saw and met him.

• Follow @YuriGagarin50 for a series of tweets over 5 days  starting tomorrow at (11th July) at 10:29 when Gagarin arrived at London Heathrow exactly 50 years ago. @YuriGagarin50 will follow in his footsteps matching his itinerary in London and Manchester.

• 12th July – details uncertain – Manchester International airport Airport is  unveiling a plaque to commemorate Gagarin’s arrival. Contact press office 0161 489 2705

• 13:00 -14:00 on 12th July Manchester Town Hall. A small gathering of those who met Gagarin in Manchester. This event is by invitation only. Contact   0161 234 3311

• Yuri Gagarin Exhibition in Sale, Manchester is still open. An introductory talk is planned for the evening of the 12th July.

• 7pm 12th July Science Museum in London Memories of my father.Natalya Koroleva, daughter of Sergei Korolev, Chief Designer of the Soviet Missile and Space Programmes,  talks about her father’s incredible achievements.

• 7pm 13th July Science Museum in London Sergei Krikalev will be joined by Helen Sharman, his crew mate and the first Briton in space, and will share experiences of missions on the Soyuz and Shuttle spacecraft and his record breaking stays aboard the International and Mir Space Stations.

• 14th July  London unveiling of a Yuri Gagarin statue outside the British Council office in London. followed by a reception in the evening.

• From 23rd July – Peggy and the Spaceman is going to be produced as part of the Manchester 24:7 Theatre Festival. Facebook page here

• Talking of anniversary’s.. Apollo15 was launched on 26th July 1971. Al Worden’s biography  is  published later this month  http://www.facebook.com/fallingtoearth

Probably the most scientifically demanding Apollo mission, Apollo 15 was launched on 26^th July 1971 on a two week mission. Al Worden in the command module orbited the Moon for 75 orbits whilst Dave Scott and James Irwin explored the south eastern edge of Mare Imbrium on the Moon’s surface.  Apollo 15 launched with the heaviest payload of all Apollo missions and included the first moon rover, a sub-satellite launched from Apollo 15 in to lunar orbit and a collection of science instruments including a high resolution camera to map the lunar surface.

To coincide with the 40^th anniversary, on July 26^th 2011, writing with Francis French Al Worden is publishing his autobiography.  In this interview recorded in London on 22^nd May, Al talks about his test pilot career before joining NASA, the Apollo 15 mission, the “Covers incident” (these were stamped postal covers franked on the day of launch and again the day of ret urn for subsequent public sale) his post NASA career and his autobiography Falling to Earth.

In addition to bringing back 77kg of Lunar Material, high resolution images of the Moon from lunar orbit and images of the zodiacal light, solar corona and gegenschein, Al Worden conducted a 38 minute space walk a day after they fired the engine for their journey home from Lunar orbit.

________________________

Today’s quote is from Al during this interview. It is a reminder that space exploration is not only about cutting-edge technology and breathtaking adventure but it is above all a human endeavour.

“The story of Apollo 15 is a story of betrayal by people and by the government”

Episode 45: 4th July 2011: Apollo 15 Command Module Pilot Al Worden Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Yuri Gagarin in London and Manchester

A Smile that Changed the World?

The story of the World’s first spaceman’s five days in the UK 11th – 15th July 1961

The first human spaceflight on 12th April 1961 shocked the West and made cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin the most famous person on the planet.  As one of civilisation’s seminal accomplishments it was borne out of technology designed for weapons of mass destruction.

Following the launch of Sputnik in 1957, the Soviets charged headlong into the exploration of the Moon, Venus and Mars, demonstrating and honing their weapons of war in the name of science.

Three months after his flight, still the only person to have been in Earth orbit, he came to Britain.  Declassified confidential and secret government documents reveal for the first time the frantic diplomatic efforts to achieve a balance between celebrating one of humanity’s greatest achievements whilst grappling with the political dynamite of the unprecedented propaganda opportunity of a Soviet air force Major’s success being celebrated first by the Prime Minister and then by the Queen at Buckingham Palace.

Chronicled for the first time in these pages are the personal recollections, including never before published pictures, from people in Manchester and London of the impact of this handsome, charismatic cosmonaut who captured the hearts of ordinary working people in Britain. This unassuming diminutive Major with an engaging permanent smile brought hope to a world at the brink of thermonuclear war. For many in Britain during the coldest days of the Cold War, this cosmonaut was the only Russian they would ever see.

* * * *

Book reviews on Amazon and  Beyond Moon & Mars blog .

Available from YPD Books 

Yuri Gagarin in London and Manchester
185 Pages, 27 Illustrations
ISBN 978-0-9569337-0-6
Paperback £10.00  and eBook (iPad and Kindle) £5.00
Download a pdf   of  the page of contents, Chapter 2 “An Uneasy Invitation” and the text above or all three in a zip file.

Poyekhali! Yuri Gagarin & The Dawn of Space Exploration

Photo Exhibition at the Royal Albert Hall

9th June – 4th July  at the Royal Albert Hall

This exhibition to mark the 50th anniversary of Gagarin’s spaceflight is hosted in the world-renowned venue in the heart of London. It is organised by Russia’s leading news agency RIA Novosti in collaboration with Science Photo Library.

The exhibition is already open and runs through until July 4th. For one of the most photographed man in his time, this exhibition includes some photos never before seen in public.

If you are going to the Royal Albert Hall for another event between 9th June and 4th July, you can see the exhibition whilst you are there. If not there are three slots specifically designated for the exhibition – for free.

Saturday 25th June: 11.00am to 3.00pm
Saturday   2nd July: 10.00am to 2.00pm
Sunday      3rd July: 11.00am to 3.00pm

There is also a rare talk about Gagarin from Piers Bizony, one of the  joint authors of probably the most popular biography of Yuri Gagarin :  Starman. The truth behind the Legend of Yuri Gagarin

The First Man In Space… And The Man Who Put Him There by Piers Bizony
18:30 on Sunday 26th June

The talk will cost £10.00 and includes a glass of wine and I hope some non-alcoholic alternatives too. The talk is also at the Royal Albert Hall and will include an opportunity for a private viewing of the exhibition for those attending the talk.

Another Yuri Gagarin episode, I know the anniversary of the world’s first spaceflight is over but there is still lots going on over the next few months. There are two contributors in this episode, Chris Riley and Richard Evans.

One of the most successful projects to mark the anniversary is the film First Orbit. The only camera aboard Vostok 1 was on the inside, transmitting live pictures of Gagarin’s face to the nervous engineers who anxiously monitored mankind’s first experience of spaceflight. First Orbit is a remarkably accurate recreation of what Gagarin would have seen compiled from high definition video shot from the space station. Astonishingly, this undertaking of international proportions, was put together by numerous unpaid volunteers and almost three million who have seen it, saw it for free.  It is still available for viewing online and for download – still free. If you want to make a contribution and have a smart phone (Android or Iphone) the First Orbit app will set you back about 70 pence.

First Orbit was produced and directed by Chris Riley along with many other volunteers. Chances are you have already seen the film. Also available from firstorbit.org website is a short but  facinating video about the making of First Orbit.  Chris Riley talks about his next project “Orbit” but begins with how the idea of First Orbit came about.

Yuri Gagarin was in Britain for 5 days, he spent the second one, Wednesday 12^th July 1961, in Manchester.  A major in the Soviet Air Force he started off his career as foundryman.  During his six hours in the city, he visited the head quarters of the Amalgamated Union of Foundry Workers in Old Trafford, the Metropolitan Vickers Engineering plant in Trafford Park and concluded with a civic reception in Manchester Town Hall.

The only event in Manchester to mark the anniversary of Yuri Gagarin’s vist  is an exhibition at the Waterside Arts Centre in Sale running through until 17^th August 2011. The exhibition and program of events have been driven by the science fiction author Richard Evans. He talks about the exhibitiion but starts with his current writing project.

________________________

Today’s quote is from Yuri Gagarin asserting his working class roots during his Manchester visit.

“Although I am doing a different job now, I am still a foundry worker at heart”

First Orbit and Manchster's Yuri Gagarin Exhibition Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Want to see Shuttle launch from the UK without leaving home?

OK, its not quiet the launch but it is not long after. A coincidence of timing today is just right for an unusual view of the Space Shuttle Endeavor’s last ever flight. About half an hour after the Sun sets in the UK, Endeavor will takes off from Florida and heads our way.

For  short period after the sunset in the UK, it is still shinning on the shuttle a 130 miles up where has just arrived in obit and the Shuttle’s separated huge fuel tank is still on its way back for a splash down in the Indian ocean.

Conveniently, today the Sun sets at 20:20 in London and the night begins. The shuttle launches at 20:47 and about 20 minutes later, Endeavor and its huge fuel tank  should be visible over the UK as two bright Space-Station-like objects moving across the the night sky.  Should see something like this as filmed by Adrian West from Newbury AS.

All times are in BST. I have made the arrangements with NASA, there will be no delays and with the higher authorities  – the sky will be clear where ever you are:)

Scroll down for the audio and video.

1969 is remembered for the unique event in history, Apollo 11 and the first men, Neil and Buzz on the surface of the Moon. Before the year was out, another three men headed the same way. On November 19^th, Pete Conrad and Alan Bean precision landed Apollo 12 in the Ocean of Storms with in walking distance of Surveyor 3 which had arrived to years earlier. The command module pilot Richard Gordon waited in lunar orbit while Conrad and Bean made two lunar EVAs during the thirty one hours they were on the lunar surface. In April, Capt. Dick Gordon came to Pontefract in England. Gordon is one of several astronauts who have made that particular journey under the auspices of Ken Willoughby. This episode is a video recording starting with my short interview and then the Q&A at the end of his public presentation hence the ambient noise. Ken MacTaggart from the newspaper, the Scotsman was also present in Pontefract  just off the screen. His article is available here.

________________________

Today’s quote is from Apollo 12 commander, Pete Conrad as he stepped on to the surface of the Moon.

“Whoopee! Man, that may have been a small one for Neil, but it’s a long one for me!”

Captain Dick Gordon Apollo Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Apollo 12 Dick Gordon Episode 43 www.astrotalkuk.org from AstrotalkUK on Vimeo.

Scroll down for the audio and video.

On a cold bright Wednesday morning fifty years ago in the Soviet town of  Turatam, a rocket launched a man into space. A critical initial step for any civilisation that eventually travels to the stars.

Any first is both special and trivial. Special because by definition it only happens once and arises from a complex set of circumstances that happen to come together at that point in time.  It is trivial in the sense that there is nothing necessarily unique about the individuals that are involved. They too are chosen by circumstance largely beyond their control. Driven perhaps by a desire for personal glory, an overwhelming sense of duty or an innate curiosity to explore, the early space travellers and those who facilitated it overcame personal challenges, exhaustive training and exposure to unrivalled grave danger to bring a new experience to mankind.

Less than a month after his 27^th birthday, Yuri Gagarin was launched into space aboard Vostok 1. Fifty years on, there are now around 550 human beings to have experienced spaceflight in Earth orbit. Of all the orbital spaceflights Gagarin’s 108 minute flight is the shortest. It was his only spaceflight. He died in an air crash in 1968 whilst training to return to spaceflight.

In the immediate aftermath of his flight, Gagarin embarked on what turned out to be pretty much a world tour. In July 1961 he came to Britain at the invitation of the Amalgamated Union of Foundry Workers, because prior to joining the Soviet Air Force, Gagarin had trained and worked as a foundryman. He ended up meeting the British Prime Minister in London and the Queen invited him for lunch at Buckingham Palace, but he came to Manchester first because that is where the union was based. Gagarin visited the union headquarters where he was made their first honorary member and awarded a gold medal inscribed with the word “together moulding a better world”. He went on to visit a foundry in Trafford Park (the world’s first purpose built and largest industrial estate) and then Manchester Town Hall for a civic reception where he met Sir Bernard Lovell director of Jodrell Bank Radio Telescope that had assisted in the tracking of Soviet satellites and spaceships.

This week’s episode is the story of a short, originally 16mm cine film partially with audio recorded during Gagarin’s visit to Manchester on 12^th July 1961.  The film shows Gagarin’s arrival at Manchester Ringway Airport, the presentation ceremony at the union office in Old Trafford, his visits to the foundry workers in Trafford Park and the Manchester Town Hall. The roll of film was discovered unlabelled in a cupboard in 1986 as the union prepared to move out of the building that Gagarin visited to another.  The discovery was made by Alf Lloyd, a Union Regional Officer and colleague. It had no label and was almost discarded.  Alf Lloyd presented the film to the Manchester based North West Film Archive in 1987.

In early 2011, by chance, I had been in contact with space historian Francis French, who is from Manchester but is now the Director of Education at San Diego Air and Space Museum in California . In 1987 he was researching Gagarin’s visit to Manchester when he was shown a cine film in a Manchester union office on a cine projector. During the screening a part of the film broke off and he was given the broken segment as a gift.  Fortunately, Francis kept that segment safe and recognised that his segment was part of the same roll of film. After almost a quarter of a century later the two sections have been once again digitally reunited and an edited version is available online at Astrotalkuk.org.  The original film resides with the Northwest Film Archive.

Not least because of his humble family origins but also because of his deep communist principles, the empathy and warmth Gagarin experienced during his meeting with the foundry workers in Trafford Park was genuine and sincere. On 12th April 1962, the first anniversary of his flight, Gagarin sent a message to the Foundry Workers in Manchester via Moscow Radio’s English service. The message starts with the words “Dear Brothers”, and goes on to recall his experience of his visit to Manchester and includes the moving statement “The firm handshakes of my fellow workers in the moulding workshops were dearer to me than many awards”.

The original recording had audio on only two sections. The first audio section is a record of  the presentation of the honorary membership at the union office by the AUFW president Fred Hollingsworth. In the second audio section, Gagarin fields questions at the reception in Manchester Town Hall. Gagarin did not speak English, his translator is Boris Biletsky.

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Today’s quote is from Yuri Gagarin himself. When you read the text of his speeches, reports in newspapers and his formal messages, one reoccurring topic is about peace and friendship. Much is, no doubt, simple rhetoric, a response to the prevailing cold war uncertainties, and even political propaganda. On reflection, however, I think much of it was honest, heartfelt and a genuine expression of his personal desire for peace and friendship. In a New Year’s greeting message of 1962 he states

“May this year be a year of peace on Earth and may the friendship between British and Soviet peoples develop and grow stronger”

epsiode42 Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Scroll down for the audio and video.

Reg Turnill joined the BBC in 1956 with the remit to cover aviation and defence. The launch of Sputnik 1 in the following year expanded his remit to include space. He is particularly well known for his coverage of the American Apollo program. In the UK, his name and face, along with that of Patrick Moore and James Burke, is associated with the commentators who covered live the Apollo Moon landings on the BBC.

In April 1961, Reg was sent to Moscow for Gagarin’s first post flight international news conference. It turned out to be a fascinating story of cold war politics as well as leading edge space technology. In his own words Reg describes this as “ a phony press conference, an entirely choreographed event designed to humiliate the west” and he summarised the whole press conference as “good humoured evasion”. Interacting through an interpreter and restricted to pre submitted written questions, he had to put aside his usual analytical approach. However he recognises that this was “a great achievement”. This interview was recorded on January 19th 2011 at his home on the south coast of England.
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Today’s quote is from Reg Turnill’s book “The Moon Landings: An Eye Witness Account”. Following John Glen’s second spaceflight in October 1998, Reg at 83 the oldest working space correspondent, asked John Glen, the oldest man in space, a question. In part Glen answered
“Old folk have ambitions and dreams too, like everybody else. So why don’t they work for them? Don’t sit on the couch. Go for it”

episode41 Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Reg Turnill talks about Yuri Gagarin’s first press conference from AstrotalkUK on Vimeo.

Scroll down for the options to play audio and video.

On the third of Gagarin’s five days in Britain, immediately following his meeting with Prime Minister Harold Macmillan, on Thursday 13^th July 1961,  he had the only private meeting of his visit with Captain Eric Brown where the press was not invited, no photographs were taken and no official record was kept.  During this “test pilot” to “test pilot” meeting, Gagarin clearly told Brown that he had ejected from his spacecraft. Although not in the same league as Brown, Brown did consider Gagarin as a test pilot. The Soviets consistently maintained that he had not but eventually, a decade later hey conceded officially that he had. When I asked Captain Brown why he had never published the details of his private meeting before, “no one asked me before” replied.

At the time Captain Brown was the deputy director of Naval Warfare and the meeting took place between him, his deputy and colleague from the Admiralty who could speak Russian but that was kept secret from Gagarin and Belitsky. Brown sought additional confidence that the translator was translating sincerely.

Captain Brown has had a unique career as a test pilot. He had met many of the key players in aviation and rocket design. Hanna Reitsch, Herman Goering and Wernher Von Braun. Brown’s achievements as a test pilot were well established and it is probably with the knowledge of his accomplishments that the Soviets agreed to such a meeting. Brown still holds the world record in deck landings (2407) and the number of aircraft types flown (487). He also has several firsts (first deck landing of a twin engine aircraft, first deck landing of a jet engine) of which the Russian’s and Gagarin would have known. By 1960, many of his books were available in translation in technical colleges which young aviators like Gagarin would have come across. It is likely that Gagarin new of Brown and wanted to meet Brown just a much as Brown wanted to meet Gagarin.

Immediately following the war, Brown was inevitably involved in supersonic flight testing and reached speeds up to mach 0.9. He was testing a secret high performance aircraft designated as the Miles M52 which was suddenly and suspiciously dropped in 1946. Had it not been, it was very likely that Brown would have added first supersonic flight to his collections of firsts. In the event Chuck Jaeger in USA claimed that achievement in 1947.

He is considered to be the greatest ever test pilot by some within the aviation industry.

An extensive interview, recorded in his home on 19^th January two days before his 92^nd birthday, is edited specifically for his recollections about Yuri Gagarin.

Eric Winkle Brown and Major Yuri Gagarin Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Captain Eric Brown and Yuri Gagarin – 13th Juy 1961 from AstrotalkUK on Vimeo.

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Today’s quote is about how we humans relate to each other> It is from Captain Eric Brown’s book “Wings on my sleeves”. He is sent to France with three former German officers to recover a high performance German aircraft during the winter of 1945/6.&nbsp
A kind of friendship with sincerity in it grew up amongst us. If they had wanted to they could have easily disposed of me and made a run for it. But they carried out their duties to the letter and often exceeded it.

On Saturday 26th March 2011 Barton Airfield is having a “Barton Airfield History Open day”. I will be speaking about “Gagarin the Pilot Cosmonaut” between 16:00 and 17:00. It is a free event but may have to pay £1.00 (all day) for the car park. Looking forward to this,  did some of my initial flight training there, many, many years ago.

The venue is Melvin’s Café Bar adjacent to the car park at Barton air field just 5 miles from Manchester City Centre. If you are in the area – stop by.

Barton Airfield Heritage Society (See on Google Maps)
Barton Aerodrome
Liverpool Road
Eccles
Manchester
M30 7SA

A different, interesting and at times a little silly episode this week. 

Professor L Gay from the Southern University Edwardsville Illinois (SUEI) and Swinburne Astronomy Online but you will may be familiar with her voice on the probably most popular Astronomy podcast Astronomy Cast.

This recording was made in Oxford during her visit in March this year.

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This week’s quote is from Anne Morrow Lindberg

“Good communication is as stimulating as black coffee, and just as hard to sleep after.”

Astronomy on the web [ 17:57 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

As the European city of Culture, Liverpool has more than its fair share of activities this year. Many have an astronomy connection. In today’s episode Andy Newsam from Liverpool John Moores University, Joanne Coleman from the British Association for the Advancement of Science talks about the Science Festival between 6th and 11th of September and Gary Evans from the sciencephoto library on a unique exhibition of astronomical images called Earth to the Universe which is already underway.

All of these take place in Liverpool as it celebrates its role as the 2008 European City of Culture. Infact, if you do see this in time and are close enough to Liverpool there is in interesting lecture this Thursday 17th June 18:30, Chadwick Lecture Theatre, University of Liverpool. Robert Fosbury, is talking about How Astronomers Image the Sky.

Episdoe20:European City of Culture - Astronomy in Liverpool [ 33:06 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

There are many ways to participate in and learn about astronomy online.

In today’s episode, three examples of how the web is being used to share resources and build communities around Science http://www.sciencefile.org Space http://www.space.co.uk and Astronomy http://www.fedastro.org.uk .

Many astronomical societies are preparing or have already completed a program of speakers for the 2008/9 season. If you are a member I would encourage you exploit one or better still all three resources featured in today’s episode to advertise you societies events. You will be surprised at the visitors who may turn up.

episode19 [ 27:41 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Profile #1: First of occasional episodes profiling individuals who have made a unique contribution in amateur astronomy. In this episode three diverse individuals. Ken Willoughby from West Yorkshire Astronomical Society bringing Apollo astronauts to Pontefract. Astronomy Now’s Mark Armstrong supernova discoverer and Chris Marriott of Skymap.

Episode 7 : Profile #1 [ 27:20 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Studying Astronomy :Peter Thomas from the the University of London Observatory, Stewart Eyres from the University of Central Lancashire and Ulrich Kolb from the Open University discuss some of the options available to amateur astronomers who want a little more structured approach in learning about their hobby.

Standard Podcast [ 22:50 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

David Levy recounts the momentous event of July 1994 and talks about his current preoccupations. Did you know he has his own pod cast called letstalkstars.

David Paul talks about the Campaign for Dark Skies which was established in 1989, what progress has been made and how the amateur astronomy community can still contribute.

Alison Gibbings describes what students do when not attending lectures, no they’re not in the pub. They have got themselves organised take a look at UKSEDS. The website does require an update though.

Episode 3 : Astrofest 2008 Part 2 [ 28:25 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download