Tag Archives: Space flight

Giotto of Filton

Posted on March 14, 2013 by astronomersden

It was an exciting moment for many people, but especially for a young boy. It seemed such a daring mission and the fact the probe was not expected to survive made it all the more tantalising.  Which boy doesn’t relish … Continue reading →

Posted in Astronomy, British Space, Comets, Halley, Space Flight, The Astronomer's Den | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

2012 – That was the year that was

Posted on December 30, 2012 by astronomersden

938,900,000 km at 30km/s. It’s quite a ride when you think about it. Throw in 366 rotations at an equatorial speed of 1,674.4 km/h and the whole thing sounds pretty hair raising. 2012. It’s almost over and another arbitrarily set … Continue reading →

Posted in Astronomy, British Space, Irregular Astro Camp 2012, Jodrell Bank, Mars, Moon, NASA, Orion, Patrick Moore, Space Flight, Space Station, Telescope, The Astronomer's Den, Transit of Venus, Venus, Weather | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Dan Dare report for duty!

Posted on November 21, 2012 by astronomersden

In the 1970s we gave up on the Vertical Empire.  The UK shot Black Arrow into the skies above Woomera and placed a small test satellite called Prospero in a near perfect orbit, dusted its hands and said enough. Well almost.  … Continue reading →

Posted in British Space, Dan Dare, Mars, NASA, Space Flight, Space Station, The Astronomer's Den | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Doing the Great Things

Posted on October 14, 2012 by astronomersden

I was talking with good friends in the pub yesterday. We talked about ‘great things’. More specifically is it worth doing them? What is the point? On the table infront of us was the obituary of Neil Armstrong, surely the … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Life, Moon, NASA, Space Flight, The Astronomer's Den | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Moon Dust

Posted on August 25, 2012 by astronomersden

The storm clouds covered Southern Britain today.  Dark, brooding clouds heavy with rain and pent up electrical charge, filled all horizons.  I was driving back from our family holiday, looking forward to getting off the M4 and putting my feet … Continue reading →

Posted in Moon, NASA, Space Flight, The Astronomer's Den | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

A Curious Journey

Posted on August 6, 2012 by astronomersden

The silence felt like it would match the silence Mars Science laboratory had experienced over the last 8 months. London is rarely quiet but waiting for a bus to appear in the early morning gloom of 4.30am is about as silent as … Continue reading →

Posted in Astronomy, British Space, Mars, NASA, Space Flight, The Astronomer's Den | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

The Telstar. A Tale of two Rockets.

Posted on July 23, 2012 by astronomersden

July 22nd 1962 If I had wanted to see pictures from across the Atlantic I would have to wait.  Couriered by aircraft in a few hours and then eventually broadcast perhaps a day after the event, picture news travelled slowly.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Astronomy, Atmosphere, Space Flight, The Astronomer's Den, Van-Allen Belts | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Two in the bed…

Posted on June 18, 2012 by astronomersden

Today there are two manned stations in space. One is the leviathan that is the International Space Station. 450 Tonnes, 108 metres across, with a rotating crew of 6.  It has been manned since 2001 and while its usefulness and … Continue reading →

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The Black Arrow

Posted on April 27, 2012 by astronomersden

I could have been looking at the centuries old ruins of a castle. But the moulded concrete and rusting steel were a give away.  This was no Norman keep, this was the white heat of 60s Britain, sitting on a … Continue reading →

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