AstrotalkUK

This episode has no specific astronomical topic but draws attention to a very special astronomy meeting later this month. The Royal Astronomical Society’s annual National Astronomy Meeting last year was held in Wales, next year it will be in Scotland but this year it is in Manchester. National Astronomy Meeting 2012 or NAM2012 will be hosted by the University of Manchester in partnership with Germany’s equivalent to the RAS, the Astronomische Gesellschaft in the last week of March 2012.

Matt Irvine. Credit Mattirvine.com

The same year that the first woman made it into space in 1963, a quaint children’s sci-fi series called Dr Who started on BBC television in the UK.  Eventually, it became popular worldwide and has enjoyed success once more since it restarted in 2005.

Mat Irvine worked in the special effects department of the BBC and made the original model of K9 for Dr Who, but he also worked on other programs, including The Sky at Night.

One of the memorable characters from Dr Who was Davros. The horribly scarred, evil-looking megalomaniac creator of the Daleks and arch-enemy of the Doctor. Listen out for my faux pas when I refer to Davros as Stavros.

In this episode, Mat talks about the special effects department in those early days at the BBC and about the recently resurfaced 1963 episode of Sky at Night featuring Arthur C Clark.

A clip from the missing episode was shown in the November 2011 edition of Sky at Night. You can see the full episode here.

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. Halfway 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 (listen here), thanks to Andy Crane of BBC Radio Manchester is helping to publicise the campaign.

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 50th 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 14th 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

The unveiling of the statue ceremony was opened by

Martin Davidson, Chief Executive of the British Council

Vladimir Popovkin, Head of Roscosmos (speaking in Russian but with a translator)

Yuri Gagarin’s oldest daughter, Elena Gagarina unveiled the statue

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

The Russian Ambassador Alexander Yakovenko,

Cosmonaut Sergei Krikalev, who holds the record for the longest time spent in space

British Council Evening reception

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!

The episode ends with Ambassador Yakovenko briefly recalling his recent meeting with the queen.

Korolev's daughter, granddaughter and great-granddaughter

On his first visit outside the eastern bloc, Yuri Gagarin arrived in London for a 5 day visit on Tuesday July 11th 1961. He was greeted with a tumultuous and sincere warm welcome everywhere he went, including his meetings with the Prime Minister and the Queen. The British government juggled with acknowledging Gagarin's personal courage and the Soviet Union’s historic technological achievement whilst assuring its allies, the USA, France and West Germany that the visit would not be exploited exclusively as a communist propaganda opportunity.

When the Manchester-based Amalgamated Union of Foundry Workers discovered that Gagarin had trained as a foundry worker, they invited him to join their union as a honorary member.  He came to Manchester on 12th July and visited the union office, the Metrovicks plant in Trafford Park and the city’s town hall before flying back to London six hours later.

During the late seventies, I had lived near this union office and only discovered in 2010 that Gagarin had actually been there. I looked but failed to find any books on the subject, so I decided to write one. It is called “Yuri Gagarin in London and Manchester” and attempts to fill in a small bit of the Gagarin story.

The first and last chapters describe Gagarin’s flight, some of the key individuals involved, the air crash that claimed his life in 1968 and his personal impact as an advocate of peace during the Cold War.  In the remaining chapter – 2-7, I document the background to his invitation and details of where he went and who he met.  Some of those recollections are the subject of this episode. It includes clips from Captain Eric Brown and Reg Turnill, which are available in episodes 40 and 41.  My thanks to those who contributed to this episode - Reg Turnill, Dame Kathleen Ollerenshaw, Brenda Knowles, Marjorie Rose, Stanley Nelson, Captain Eric Brown and Stanislava Sajawicz.

Yuri Gagarin in London and Manchester

185 Pages, 27 Illustrations

ISBN 978-0-9569337-0-6

Paperback £10.00 (+postage) and eBook (iPad and Kindle) £2.50 available from [email protected]

Download a PDF of the page of contents, Chapter 2 “An Uneasy Invitation” and the text above or all three in a zip file.

Recollections of Yuri Gagarin in London and Manchester from AstrotalkUK on Vimeo.

Probably the most scientifically demanding Apollo mission, Apollo 15 was launched on 26th 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 40th anniversary, on July 26th 2011, writing with Francis French Al Worden is publishing his autobiography.  In this interview recorded in London on 22nd 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.

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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”

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 12th July 1961, in Manchester.  A major in the Soviet Air Force, he started off his career as a foundryman.  During his six hours in the city, he visited the headquarters 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 visit is an exhibition at the Waterside Arts Centre in Sale running through until 17th August 2011. The exhibition and program of events have been driven by the science fiction author Richard Evans. He talks about the exhibition 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”

http://www.firstorbit.org/how-we-made-the-film

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 12th 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 17th 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”

http://www.firstorbit.org/how-we-made-the-film

The post Episode 44: 15th May 2011: First Orbit and Manchester’s Yuri Gagarin Exhibition appeared first on AstrotalkUK » Podcast Feed.

The post Episode 44: 15th May 2011: First Orbit and Manchester’s Yuri Gagarin Exhibition appeared first on AstrotalkUK » Podcast Feed.

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 19th, Pete Conrad and Alan Bean precision landed Apollo 12 in the Ocean of Storms within walking distance of Surveyor 3, which had arrived two 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 of my short interview, followed by the Q&A at the end of his public presentation, hence the ambient noise. Ken MacTaggart from The Scotsman was also present in Pontefract, just off-screen. His article is available here.

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

"Whoopee! Man, that may have been a small one for Neil, but it's a long one for me!"

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

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 19th, 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!”

 

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

The post Episode 43 April 18th 2011: Apollo 12 and Captain Richard Gordon appeared first on AstrotalkUK » Podcast Feed.

The post Episode 43 April 18th 2011: Apollo 12 and Captain Richard Gordon appeared first on AstrotalkUK » Podcast Feed.