Goonhilly & Telstar - looking back on 55 years
August 9, 2017
As of July 2017, it's been 55 years since the launch of the iconic Telstar satellite, and since JFK's famous, TV broadcasted, press conference.

The press conference was transmitted from the US to Europe via the Telstar satellite, Goonhilly Earth Station's Aerial-1 ("Arthur"), and French earth station Plemeur Bodou in Brittany.
The Telstar satellite has long been replaced by other, more sophisticated models. Goonhilly Aerial-1, however, an 1100 tonne giant, is still standing strong, and ready to enter the next working phase as part of a network of large antennas for radio astronomy.
Read more about Aerial-1 on the UK Space Agency's blog or on Telstar and related technology on the UK Space Agency's news
site.
In 2022, Holly Holmes, a then-Year-10 student from Cornwall, attended a Summer School event here at Goonhilly. Now in Year 12, Holly has kindly taken the time to update us on the impact that her time with us has had on her studies, confidence levels, and plans for the future. Thank you Holly for sharing your experiences in this brilliant blog post! We’re thrilled to hear that the experience meant so much to you!
The above image, and those below, were acquired from NOAA 18 (on 137.9125 MHz), and NOAA 19 (on 137.100 MHz) during daytime passes here at Goonhilly. In preparation for our annual Summer School programme , Goonhilly’s Deep Space Network Operators have been busy preparing a project that will enable students to receive images from NOAA weather satellites. During the practical demonstration, students will be able to discover what the weather is currently doing across the North Atlantic and Western Europe. By repeating the receiving process several times, as the satellites pass over, the students will be able to track the weather over time, and predict how the weather here in Cornwall will change. In addition to equipping students with the theoretical and practical skills to receive real-time satellite transmissions for themselves, the project will also highlight the diverse ways in which we rely on Low Earth Orbit satellites in our everyday lives. Other projects and lessons planned for the attendees of the week-long programme will help them to learn about the different methods, materials, and techniques that make Goonhilly’s world-leading satellite communications work a reality. Here at Goonhilly, we believe in the value of a hands-on approach to complement theoretical learning. By preparing this project, the Deep Space Network Operations Team hopes to not only train valuable skills but also promote the enjoyment that comes from gaining knowledge via self-discovery. The team looks forward to offering the Summer School students an insight into what training as an Operator entails, and what it means to play a critical role in the UK’s future in space.








