Comments for 50 years of space science at Leicester

Comment on Group timeline: 1960s by Ken Pounds

Ken Pounds — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 10:56:59 +0000

The solar X-ray detector flown on SL49 was the first of a series of flights of a simple device with which a sensitive, coarse grain film was exposed to the Sun successively through different metal filters, to obtain a crude solar X-ray spectrum. To survive impact, hopefully via parachute of the whole Skylark payload, the film was contained in a strong stainless steel holder, and exposed above the atmosphere via a pre-programmed shutter mechanism.
The detector was designed when I was still at UCL, and continued to be built there
after 1960. In that respect the timeline is correct. However, the addition of filters and film, and the scientific analysis was carried out at Leicester.

Comment on Group timeline: 1960s by Mike Watson

Mike Watson — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 07:18:24 +0000

Robin

You may easily be correct. I’ll ask Ken Pounds to comment. In the meantime there is a compilation here:

http://www.planet4589.org/space/misc/lux.html

which may shed further light.

Comment on Group timeline: 1960s by Robin Brand

Robin Brand — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 19:45:00 +0000

Your group timeline for the 1960s lists the first Leicester-built instrument as being launched into space aboard Skylark in 1961. I find this surprising, as research for a book I am writing on the history of Skylark indicates that the first solely Leicester instrument (i.e. not UCL/Leicester instrument) was a “Soft solar x-ray detector” launched on Skylark SL49 in November 1960. (Massey & Robins (1986),History of British Space Science, p.394). Can anyone clarify this? Was the SL49 instrument perhaps not actually built at Leicester?

Comment on Home by Mike Watson

Mike Watson — Wed, 26 May 2010 15:57:49 +0000

See the new post on the photo competition!

Comment on Ariel-6 – a Forgotten Spacecraft by Clive Page

Clive Page — Wed, 26 May 2010 15:52:34 +0000

I was hoping that you, or somebody else involved, would remember more and correct my mistakes!

Comment on Ariel-6 – a Forgotten Spacecraft by Chris Whitford

Chris Whitford — Wed, 26 May 2010 15:46:02 +0000

You remember much more about Ariel 6 than me!

Comment on Former students, staff & visitors by Clive Page

Clive Page — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 08:15:38 +0000

I’ve emailed all 3 and had replies from Phil Daly and Clive Davenhall – who are interested but may or may not be able to attend.

Comment on Former students, staff & visitors by Mike Watson

Mike Watson — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 07:11:30 +0000

Clive – and indeed all former colleagues – please feel free to pass on the information about the symposium and reunion event to any ex-Leicester people you happen to be in touch with.

We have tracked down many former colleagues to invite, but we know that our email list is very incomplete.

Comment on Former students, staff & visitors by Clive Page

Clive Page — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 09:56:45 +0000

I have fairly recent email details for the following:

Phil Daly (former Starlink manager)

Clive Davenhall (former Starlink programmer)

Tim Goodwin (former Starlink manager)

Comment on Former students, staff & visitors by Dan Rolf

Dan Rolf — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 22:32:48 +0000

I think John Oldfield was a PhD on UK6 back in the late 70’s.