April 10, 2010
History, Moon, Rockets
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Despite the now 50 years of the space race, only 24 men have left Earth orbit on a journey to another world. Between 1968 and 1972, nine Apollo missions went to the moon. Of the 24 men, 3 went twice and 12 landed on the lunar surface. Of those 12, only 9 remain and one of them, Edgar Mitchell, will be visiting Yorkshire next week.
Edgar Mitchell was the Lunar module pilot of Apollo 14, the first Apollo mission after the unsuccessful Apollo 13. The crew of Apollo 14 included Alan Shepard and Stuart Roosa both have since died.
This is the fifth astronaut that has come to Pontefract, a visit arranged predominantly with the sole effort of Ken Willoughby. The evening of Friday April 16th at 19:15 is the formal event but a smaller select group will meet for dinner on Thursday 15th, tickets are currently available for both days. Download this document for all the details including Ken’s telephone number.
A short additional presentation on the Bloodhound SSC will open the evening event on Friday 16th.
Who is coming next year? Preparations are in the early stages but one of the following
Gene Cernan
Harrison Schmitt
Ken Mattingley
Michael Collins
June 1, 2008
ESA, Rockets, Solar System
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Since the days of Sputnik and Apollo, Space technology has matured to an extent that it is almost a routine commercial activity. China, India and Japan are well established players in addition to USA and Russia. Next year the Virgin Galactic will embark on space tourism. Since its establishment in 1975, the European Space Agency ( ESA) has come a long way. The original 10 founding member countries have now grown to 17 with a broad mission to “Explore Space”. All member countries are European as you would expect – except one. With the same disregard for geography that allows Israel to join the Eurovision song contest, Canada also plays a part in ESA.
ESA has many projects active or in the pipeline and last month initiated an astronauts recruiting program. You have to be from one of the 17 member countries and you can even apply online. David Southwood is the ESA Director of Science. The following conversation with him was recorded at the Space conference. Incidentally thanks to the guys at space.co.uk (Paul and Martyn) and Cy from speed-of-light.co.uk, a video of this conversation is available here.
April 27, 2008
Education, History, Rockets
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You may have seen the report from the British UK Space Exploration Working Group suggesting that Britain can get two British Astronauts to the Space station costing less than £75m over 5 years by commercially engaging the Russian Soyuz program rather than the annual £60m cost of going with ESA, or indeed developing a British launch capability.
The Astronomer Royal on the other hand insists that unmanned space research is the way to go. You get a heck of a lot more science for your money
Dave and Leslie Wright from the British Rocketry Oral History program (BROHP) reminisce about the early days when Britain had its own launch capability and the UK Space conference that they host each year.
Want to be a rocket Scientist? Well a new book from a rocket scientist Lucy Rogers may be a good start. Lucy is also the chairman of the Vectis Astronomical Society on the isle of Wight. Their website must be one of the most elaborate. Check it out but .. turn down the volume on your PC first.
April 20, 2008
Education, History, Media, Moon, Rockets, Solar System
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Next year marks the 40th anniversary of Apollo 11 landing in the Sea of Tranquillity on the moon. In today’s episode – assistant director & co-producer Chris Riley talks about the recent film “In the Shadow of the Moon” which recounts that period and someone who was a part of it – astronaut Buzz Aldrin on his interest in Astronomy.
A short written account of his visit including a lunch with him and his wife is here.
