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Jodrell Bank

The Jodrell Bank Observatory, part of the University of Manchester, is an observatory in Cheshire that hosts a number of radio telescopes.

The main telescope is the 76m high Lovell Telescope. It came to prominence in 1957 when it spotted Russia’s Sputnik 1, the world’s first artificial satellite, and has played an important role in research into quasars, pulsars, and gravitational lenses.

Discovery Centre

The new visitor centre opened in April 2011 and features a new exhibition building, the Space Pavilion. The Planet Pavilion features a glass-walled café with views of the Lovell Telescope and a gift shop.

Opening Times

The Discovery Centre is open Monday to Saturday. Opening times are 10 am to 5 pm.

Arboretum and Gardens

Visitors can walk around the telescope and find out more about its history and Jodrell Bank from a series of information boards dotted along the path.

Jodrell Bank also boats a 35 acre arboretum with more than 1,000 types of trees, including the National Collections of crab apples and rowans.

Entrance Fee

Tickets in the peak season (May 1 to October 31 and Easter) cost £6.50 for adults and £4.50 for children (4 – 16), students, and seniors. A ticket for a family of 4 costs £20.

In the winter months the entrance fee is £5.50 for adults and £4 for children and concessions. Tickets for a family of 4 cost £17.

Location & Directions

Jodrell Bank is located just off the A535, just south of Alderley Edge.

Leave the M6 at Junction 18 and take the A54 to Holmes Chapel and then the A535 to Jodrell Bank.

The recommended postcode to use with sat navigation systems in SK11 9DW.

Map showing location of Jodrell Bank.

Address and postcode Lower Withington Macclesfield Cheshire United Kingdom SK11 9DL

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• Description

Located in a rural area of northwest England, free from radio interference, Jodrell Bank is one of the world's leading radio astronomy observatories. At the beginning of its use, in 1945, the property housed research on cosmic rays detected by radar echoes. This observatory, which is still in operation, includes several radio telescopes and working buildings, including engineering sheds and the Control Building. Jodrell Bank has had substantial scientific impact in fields such as the study of meteors and the moon, the discovery of quasars, quantum optics, and the tracking of spacecraft. This exceptional technological ensemble illustrates the transition from traditional optical astronomy to radio astronomy (1940s to 1960s), which led to radical changes in the understanding of the universe.

Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0

Observatoire de Jodrell Bank

مرصد جورديل بانك.

source: UNESCO/CPE Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0

Outstanding Universal Value

Brief synthesis

Jodrell Bank Observatory was important in the pioneering phase and later evolution of radio astronomy. It reflects scientific and technical achievements and interchanges related to the development of entirely new fields of scientific research. This led to a revolutionary understanding of the nature and scale of the Universe. The site has evidence of every stage of the history of radio astronomy, from its emergence as a new science to the present day.

Jodrell Bank Observatory is located in a rural area in northwest England. Originally, scientific activity was located at the southern end of the site, and from that time activity has moved to the north across the site with many new instruments developed and then abandoned. Remnants of early scientific instruments survive.

At the south end of the site is the location of the Mark II Telescope and it is bounded by an ensemble of modest research buildings in which much of the early work of the Observatory took place.

To the north of the Green, the site is dominated by the 76 metre diameter Lovell Telescope which sits in a working compound containing a number of engineering sheds and the Control Building. There are spaces open to the general public which include visitor facilities set around the Lovell Telescope. Other visitor facilities are outside the property to the northeast.

Jodrell Bank Observatory is the hub of the UK’s national wide array of up to seven radio telescopes (e-MERLIN) including the Lovell and Mark II Telescopes.

Criterion (i): Jodrell Bank Observatory is a masterpiece of human creative genius related to its scientific and technical achievements. The adaptation and development of radar and radio frequency reflectivity to develop radically new equipment, such as the Transit Telescope and Lovell Telescope, were a key part in the development of entirely new fields of scientific research and led to a dramatic change in the understanding of the Universe. The Observatory was important in the pioneering phase and later evolution of radio astronomy.

Criterion (ii): Jodrell Bank Observatory represents an important interchange of human values over a span of time and on a global scale on developments in technology related to radio astronomy. The scientific work at Jodrell Bank was at the heart of a global collaborative network. In particular, several important technological developments such as very large paraboloidal dish telescopes and interferometer were developed at the Observatory, and were later influential in scientific endeavours in many parts of the world.

Criterion (iv): Jodrell Bank Observatory represents an outstanding example of a technological ensemble which illustrates a significant stage in human history (1940s-1960s) – the transition from optical astronomy to radio astronomy and the associated consequence for the understanding of the Universe through multi-wavelength astrophysics. The property is also associated with the peacetime development of ‘Big Science’ as a major change in the way in which scientific research was supported and undertaken. The surviving evidence at the property related to the evolutionary development of radio astronomy from the post-war pioneering phase through to sophisticated, large scale research activity in the field makes Jodrell Bank an outstanding example of such a technological ensemble.

Criterion (vi): Jodrell Bank Observatory is directly and tangibly associated with events and ideas of outstanding universal significance. The development of the new field of radio astronomy at the property lead to a revolutionary understanding of the Universe which was only possible through research beyond the possibilities of optical astronomy to explore the electromagnetic spectrum beyond visible light. Understanding of the nature and scale of the Universe has been dramatically changed by research in radio astronomy at the Observatory.

The property retains all attributes that document its development as a site of pioneering astronomical research. Practically all stages of development from the very beginning, with improvised, re-used or borrowed equipment, onwards are represented by buildings, physical remains or in some cases archaeological remnants. Some important stages, such as represented by the large Transit Telescope, have not survived intact although traces remain. The later, large scale and far more ambitious instruments are still present at the property. This includes the iconic Lovell Telescope with its Control Building. The property also retains many quite modest structures which are, none the less, important for their research use, or which otherwise supported the work of the Observatory.

In general, all the structures are very well preserved and the property continues to be dominated by the large scale Lovell Telescope and Mark II Telescope. However, several early wooden buildings have suffered from neglect and dis-use. Their restoration is to be undertaken. The grounds are well cared for. Recent buildings have a simple and subdued character, which do not detract from the overall appreciation of the property.

The Consultation zone, buffer zone of the property, protects the scientific capabilities of the Observatory from radio emissions in its vicinity, contributing to maintenance of the functional integrity of the property.

Authenticity

The location of the property has continued unchanged, and the largely agricultural setting is essentially identical apart from the construction of the Square Kilometre Array building as part of the ongoing scientific use of the Observatory. The form and design has evolved through time reflecting the important development history of the property. This includes the somewhat improvised character of many structures indicative of the priority given to scientific research rather than the quality of buildings. Materials and substance have been mostly retained although there has been some replacement of deteriorated materials over time. The property retains its ongoing scientific use.

Protection and management requirements

Most of the attributes of Jodrell Bank Observatory have been listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990. The two major telescopes have been listed in the highest category, Grade 1. There are some elements which have no listing at the present time, although they are managed for their heritage values as part of the property.

In addition, World Heritage inscription affords all attributes a protection status equivalent to the highest level or Grade 1, in accordance with the National Planning Policy Framework (2012) and the spatial planning system which operates through several pieces of legislation, including the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. Any changes to listed buildings require approval.

The buffer zone is based on the Jodrell Bank Radio Telescope Consultation Zone which has operated effectively to protect the Observatory for many decades. It was established by the Town and Country Planning (Jodrell Bank Radio Telescope) Direction 1973.

The property is managed by the University of Manchester with a committee, the Jodrell Bank Site Governance Group responsible for coordination. This committee includes key internal stakeholders such as the three main site user groups. Each of the site user groups has its own well-developed and independent management and operational structures. Roles managing the heritage of the Observatory are integrated with the daily work of the Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics, responsible for scientific and engineering research, telescope operations and engineering, and the Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre which is responsible for visitor management and heritage coordination. These user groups are supported by other management groups within the University. The third site user group is the Square Kilometre Array Organisation, located just outside the property within the buffer zone but within the overall Observatory.

The management of the property is based on existing University structures, to be augmented by a World Heritage Site Steering Committee which will have oversight of the property and undertake coordination between the University, users and external stakeholders. The Conservation Management Plan (2016) provides an overview of the instruments and procedures for the effective management of the property. The plan, supplemented by an extensive Site Gazetteer, is currently being updated.

The Observatory has a long experience with managing visitors. There is a current tourism management plan and enhanced presentation of the property is ongoing.

• Portal to the Heritage of Astronomy
• Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre

The Nomination files produced by the States Parties are published by the World Heritage Centre at its website and/or in working documents in order to ensure transparency, access to information and to facilitate the preparations of comparative analysis by other nominating States Parties.

The sole responsibility for the content of each Nomination file lies with the State Party concerned. The publication of the Nomination file, including the maps and names, does not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever of the World Heritage Committee or of the Secretariat of UNESCO concerning the history or legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its boundaries.

Visiting Jodrell Bank, a cosmic day out from Manchester

You might have seen it on the TV, or you might have seen it as you’re landing at Manchester Airport, but have you visited Jodrell Bank?

The enormous dish of the Lovell radio telescope at Jodrell Bank observatory is one of the most recognisable landmarks in the North West of England. You can see it for miles around; you can even see it from where I live nearly 30 miles away. I first visited Jodrell Bank as a kid but I took a trip back there recently and had a fantastic time. Read on for why Jodrell Bank makes a great day trip from Manchester and how to get the most out of your visit.

Is Jodrell Bank worth visiting?

Jodrell Bank is a superb day out with lots to see for everyone. There’s cutting-edge science here, of course (it’s still an active site, owned by the University of Manchester), but there’s also tons of history – most of which I had no idea about before I visited. The new visitor centre is stunning, while the grounds and arboretum are very serene. It’s also a great place for family days out, with activities for both adults and children.

Where is Jodrell Bank?

Jodrell Bank is in the leafy Cheshire countryside, not far from Knutsford and Macclesfield and 20 miles south of Manchester. One minute you’re driving along a windy country lane past farms and cottages, the next there’s a huge radio telescope right in front of you.

History of Jodrell Bank

In 1945, a physicist at the University of Manchester named Bernard Lovell was looking for a quiet site to observe cosmic rays. The university had a botanical research facility in the Cheshire countryside, and it was deemed to be the ideal spot. For the first couple of years, Lovell and his team observed meteors using ex-military equipment, some of which they converted into telescopes.

The huge Lovell radio telescope that Jodrell Bank is so famous for was built in 1957, and at the time was the largest steerable dish telescope in the world; it’s still the 3rd largest. Gun turrets from two Royal Navy battleships were used to construct the motors which allow the dish to turn and tilt.

Jodrell Bank and the Lovell telescope gained worldwide fame only weeks after it began operations. The Soviet Union launched the world’s first artificial satellite, the Sputnik 1 in October 1957, and Jodrell Bank’s telescope was the only one in the world able to track it. Since then, the Lovell telescope, along with the other telescopes at Jodrell Bank has tracked space missions, helped astronomers make groundbreaking discoveries and searched for extra-terrestrial life.

A UNESCO World Heritage site

In 2019, Jodrell Bank Observatory was inscribed on the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites in recognition of its contribution to science and astronomy, its connection to a significant period of human history and because of how complete the site is, despite still being an active research centre.

Things to do at Jodrell Bank

There are loads of things to do when you visit Jodrell Bank – especially now the new First Light Pavilion has opened.

Explore the story of Jodrell Bank at the First Light Pavilion

The new First Light Pavilion opened on 4 June 2022. It’s the first place you’ll see when you visit Jodrell Bank, and it’s quite a sight. The building is covered in grass, and shaped like a dish facing downwards, with the same dimensions as the Lovell Telescope.

Inside, you’ll find an amazing exhibition on the history of Jodrell Bank, from its earliest beginnings to its role today. It’s not exaggerating at all to say that it’s one of the best museums I’ve ever been to; the interactive exhibits are really well done, and the films and animations really bring the story to life. Some of the films and displays are even shown on old sections of the Lovell telescope’s dish.

Watch one of the Dome Shows

Also in the First Light Pavilion, you’ll find the Space Dome auditorium with a giant curved screen which shows immersive films about the observatory and the stars. I’d found the exhibition so interesting that I just wanted to hear more about the history, but the scale is really impressive. Sit in a middle row for the best view.

Visit the Space Pavilion to learn more about radio astronomy

The Space Pavilion is one of the older buildings at the observatory and holds an exhibition about the science of radio telescopes. There’s also a classroom for schools or groups.

Try the Whispering Dishes

These are so much fun! The Whispering Dishes are two small parabolic dishes set 40 metres apart, in the shadow of the giant Lovell telescope.

Set yourselves up with one person facing into the first dish and another facing into the other, then try whispering into the dish. The sound comes through incredibly clearly even though you’re stood 40 metres apart and with your backs to each other. The exhibit really helps to give you an idea of what the Lovell telescope is doing.

Wonder at the Lovell telescope

As the star of the show, you can’t visit Jodrell Bank without wandering around the base of the Lovell radio telescope. There’s a semi-circular walkway which allows you to get fairly close; as you look up at it it’s difficult to comprehend all the amazing discoveries this great dish has been part of. I found it very serene and beautiful.

As you’re walking around the Lovell telescope you’ll also see some of Jodrell Bank’s other radio telescopes and other equipment, along with the low-rise buildings where astronomers still work today.

Events at Jodrell Bank

Jodrell Bank hosts a wide of events, exhibitions, talks, film showings and workshops, from family stargazing sessions to astrophotography workshops. You can see details of events at Jodrell Bank and book online by going to their what’s on page .

Bluedot festival

Bluedot is a space and science-themed festival which takes place over three days each summer at Jodrell Bank. The music stage always manages to attract big-name music acts (often with a technological slant) and there are lots of interesting talks and activities, including many aimed at children.

I went to Bluedot in 2016 and had a great time – dancing in a field against the backdrop of the Lovell Telescope was so good! In 2023, Bluedot will be held on 20-23 July.

Jodrell Bank on TV and film

Jodrell Bank is a total North West icon – in fact as I was writing this I was watching a rerun of Early Doors and one of the characters mentioned it! It’s fitting then that the Lovell Telescope has made plenty of appearances on film and TV.

Jodrell Bank was supposed to feature in sci-fi series Doctor Who in 1981. The last story of season 18 was called Logopolis and was set on a planet inhabited by mathematicians who can control time using the power of their equations.

The Lovell Telescope was intended to provide the backdrop to the Fourth Doctor (Tom Baker) dying and regenerating into the Fifth Doctor (Peter Davison). In the end, the scene was shot with a scale model of the Jodrell Bank telescope. In 2019, a Blu-ray version was released with a new CGI version of the scene, this time shot on location at the real Jodrell Bank.

The BBC TV show Stargazing Live was broadcast from the control room between 2011 and 2016.

Jodrell Bank is mentioned in both the book and the film of The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy .

Visiting Jodrell Bank

Can you visit jodrell bank.

You can visit Jodrell Bank every day except Mondays, from 10am to 4pm. Last entry is at 3pm, but it takes much longer than an hour to see everything at the site.

Buying tickets for Jodrell Bank

It’s best to book tickets in advance; by booking in advance you can be sure of getting in for the timeslot that you want, and you’ll also get an annual ticket which will allow you to visit again as much as you like in the next 12 months.

Tickets for adults cost £12. Children’s tickets are £8, while under-4s get in free. There are a few family ticket options to accommodate families of 3, 4 and 5.

It’s worth noting that your ticket doesn’t include the Dome Shows in the new First Light Pavilion. When I visited I saw one of the shows; it was ok, but I’m not sure I would have paid the £6 per person (£4 for children) ticket price.

How to get to Jodrell Bank

The best way to get to Jodrell Bank is by car. If you aren’t driving, the easiest route by public transport is a train to Macclesfield then a 20-minute taxi. There is a bus from Macclesfield that stops in Peover, just under 2 miles away. From Peover, you can walk along country lanes to get to the observatory and visitor centre, although it’s worth being aware that there’s no footpath for much of the way.

Given that you are in the middle of the countryside, public transport is challenging and you’re paying to get in, it’s a bit of a surprise that you have to pay for parking. Parking costs £4 per car, per day. You can buy it online when you book your entry tickets.

What facilities are there at the Jodrell Bank visitor centre?

There are two cafes at Jodrell Bank, one in the new First Light building, the other in the Planet Pavillion, where you’ll also find the excellent shop. There are picnic areas spread around the site, some of which have a view of the Lovell Telescope.

There are plenty of toilets. The site is flat and relatively small, and they take accessibility seriously.

Related posts

If you enjoyed this post, you might enjoy these other articles about days out in and around Manchester:

• How to visit the Standedge Tunnels, a 200-year-old wonder near Manchester
• The Lancashire Panopticons: a series of otherworldly art installations in East Lancashire
• A dreamy day out in Wycoller, Lancashire
• Visiting Salts Mill and Saltaire
• How to spend one day in Manchester

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Visiting Standedge Tunnel, a 200-year-old wonder near Manchester

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Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics

Our web cameras allow you to see the Jodrell Bank Observatory radio telescopes in action, tracking objects in space as the Earth rotates and they appear to move across the sky.

On some occasions the telescopes may be parked for engineering maintenance or if high winds are forecast.

Lovell telescope

The Lovell telescope, with its 76 metre diameter reflecting surface, has stood over the Cheshire plain since construction was completed in 1957.

Since then, the telescope has been upgraded several times and it remains one of the biggest and most powerful radio telescopes in the world, spending most of its time investigating cosmic phenomena which were undreamed of when it was conceived.

It was given a Heritage Grade I listing in 1988.

Jodrell Mk 2

The Mark II telescope, completed in 1964, has a parabolic reflecting surface with an elliptical outline to increase the collecting area over a circular aperture.

It is approximately 25m in diameter and was the first telescope of any type in the world to be controlled by a digital computer.

In 1987 new aluminium panels were mounted on the original steel surface and have an RMS surface accuracy of around 1/3 mm.

In 2017 it was given a Heritage Grade I listing.

7m Telescope

Originally used at the Woomera Rocket Testing Range in Australia, the 7-metre telescope is now used by undergraduates on our degree courses.

They use it to study emission from neutral atomic hydrogen in the Milky Way and nearby galaxies, and to observe pulsars, which are rapidly rotating neutron stars.

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Jodrell Bank Observatory honoured with UNESCO World Heritage status

By Sam Wong

8 July 2019

The gargantuan Lovell Telescope made important early contributions to radio astronomy

Getty Images

Jodrell Bank Observatory in Cheshire, UK, which pioneered the development of radio astronomy in the mid-20th century, has been added to the UNESCO World Heritage List .

Telescopes that detect radio waves instead of visual light give us a very different view of the cosmos, enabling the discovery of quasars, pulsars and cosmic microwave background – the afterglow of the Big Bang.

Jodrell Bank was established in 1945 by Bernard Lovell , an astronomer at the University of Manchester. The site is home to four active telescopes, but its most famous is the 76-metre diameter Lovell Telescope, which was the largest steerable dish radio telescope in the world when it was completed in 1957 .

The criteria for its selection by UNESCO acknowledge that “it is a masterpiece of human creative genius related to its scientific and technical achievements” and “it is an outstanding example of a technological ensemble which illustrates a significant stage in human history.”

Radio telescopes were used to track early space probes in the 1960s

World History Archive / Alamy Stock Photo

The World Heritage List designation honours the work of Lovell and the early scientists at Jodrell Bank as well as the research that continues today, Teresa Anderson, director of Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre, said in a statement. “Receiving this recognition will help us tell their story and the story of the communities connected to the site both across the UK and worldwide.”

Apart from its contributions to astronomy, the Lovell telescope was used to track the Soviet and American probes during the space race. In 1966, when Luna 9 made the first soft landing on the moon, the Lovell Telescope intercepted the transmission of its photos of the lunar surface, allowing the British press to publish them before the Soviets.

Today, Jodrell Bank is the headquarters of the Square Kilometre Array , a global project to create the world’s largest radio telescope.

The observatory welcomes over 185,000 visitors a year to its education centre and, since 2016, has hosted the annual Bluedot festival of music and science. If you’re attending this year, keep an eye out for  New Scientist’s stand at the Bluedot festival .

Birth of an icon

New Scientist reported on the Lovell telescope’s inauguration in August 1957, calling it “Britain’s greatest scientific instrument”.

“Astronomers are finding that its performance exceeds their highest expectations. Scientifically, the telescope is a success, and great credit is due to Professor Bernard Lovell who planned the project when radio astronomy was still in its infancy.

However, there were complaints about the spiralling costs of its construction. “Financial controversy must not be allowed to detract from the brilliance of the project. Britain now leads the world in this most recent branch of astronomy. The scrutiny of the sky from our cloud-covered island is now more promising than it has been since Herschel’s day.

“The Jodrell Bank telescope has been built to do things which are otherwise impossible. It will be able to extend our knowledge of the universe farther than ever before. But our lead in radio astronomy, although clear, is not unchallenged.

“While strict control of government money is clearly necessary, we should indeed be open to ridicule if, having a telescope which is the envy of the world, its programme were impeded for shortage of funds. Radio astronomy has replaced nuclear physics as our chief intellectual sounding board. Who can set a limit to its value?”

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Open Tuesday – Sunday, 10am – 5pm (last entry 3.30pm)

Telescope Talks

12 Jun, 2024 – 31 Dec, 2024

Included in admission

Jodrell Bank is famous for its big dish.

Find out all about the Lovell, how it came to be and what it’s been doing for the past 80 years. PLUS see live science demonstrations bound to make you say WOW!

Talks take place at 3.30pm with one of the Explainer team everyday, and last approximately 30 minutes.

Venue subject to change .

Suitable for adults and children 5+.

Got a question?

Head to our FAQ page or submit your question and a member of the Jodrell Bank team will be in touch.

Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics

Department of physics and astronomy.

• Our Research
• Study With Us
• Explore Astronomy
• How To Find Us
• Behind the Scenes Tour
• The Lovell Telescope
• What Are Our Telescopes Observing?
• 1945-1950 Early History
• 1951-1957 Building the MK I
• 1957-1960s Space Tracking
• 1964 The MK II Telescope
• 1970 The MKIA Upgrade
• 1990s MERLIN
• 2000 The Lovell Telescope Upgrade

Jodrell Bank's role in early space tracking activities - Part 1

An article by Sven Grahn - "Spaceflight History, Space Radio Tracking and Space Technology" web site .

Table of Contents Part 2

A strange new world

During the first years of the space age the public was exposed to a strange new world. Journalists and scientists scrambled to explain it and interpret technology and events. A source of facts about and authoritative comment to ongoing space missions was the Nuffield Radio Astronomy Laboratories, Jodrell Bank, Cheshire (called Jodrell Bank hereinafter) and its director, professor (later Sir) Bernard Lovell. The observatory could intercept signals from space vehicles, interpret their general meaning as to progress of this particular space mission and thereby provide an independent source of news. Especially, official news about Soviet space events was not always completely candid.

These circumstances have given Jodrell Bank a unique place in the history of the early space age. I have long been fascinated by this aspect of space history and wanted to explore not only why and how Jodrell Bank was drawn into this role, but also the details of its space tracking activities. These were great events of my youth and I am still curious as to what really happened!

The public record contains a lot of this information, but to reach deeper I decided to contact the observatory and ask for permission to study its archives. Professor Lovell himself graciously wrote to me to give several useful references in the the literature and to direct me to the Jodrell Bank Archives kept in the John Rylands Library of the University of Manchester. I finally found the time and opportunity to travel to Manchester and on 6 April 1998 I spent a full day in the gothic-style reading room of the John Rylands Library. It was fascinating to read about space events some forty years ago in a room where beautifully illuminated medieval manuscripts are on display.

The present essay is the result of this visit and of an exploration of my own archives. As with other material at this Web site the perspective is that of my own personal fascination with the use of radio monitoring signals from space vehicles as a means of determining the true nature of their missions.

The creation of the telescope and the observatory

Bernard Lovell was born in 1913. He studied physics at the University of Manchester under professor Patrick Blackett, was called up for wartime work on centimetric radar and learned about the potential of radar to detect not only enemy aeroplanes and vessels but also natural phenomena in the earth's vicinity. After the war Bernard Lovell returned to the University of Manchester and started scientific work with ex-army radars in the Cheshire countryside at the now famous place known as Jodrell Bank. The original idea was to use radar to study the secondary effects of cosmic rays in the earth's atmosphere, but the work shifted in the direction of studying ionized meteor trails and later to use radar to study the moon and the planets (radar astronomy). Later, of course, active radar studies were supplemented by what we now know as radio astronomy, that is using a radio receiving system to investigate processes in the universe.

This trend started with the construction in 1946-47 at Jodrell Bank of a 218-foot zenith-pointing, wire-grid, fixed paraboloid. This was intended to achieve the goal of detecting cosmic ray "echoes" but proved to be a powerful tool for mapping cosmic radio noise and discrete sources (notably the discovery in 1950 of the first extragalactic radio source, the M31 spiral nebula in Andromeda). The receiving beam of this telescope could be moved by moving the feed from side to side, but this only provided minor beam steering. The desire to provide a fully steerable instrument must have been irresistible in view of the string of discoveries in radio astronomy in that period. Lovell and Blackett discussed the possibility of a fully steerable telescope during the winter of 1948-49. Work on preliminary ideas for a 250-foot steerable parabolic dish started in various forms in the 1949-1950 period. The initial go-ahead from funding agencies to proceed with the preliminary design phase of the project was given on 22 June 1950.

The telescope design was entrusted to the engineering firm Husband & Co and final approval of the funding of the project was given by the DSIR (Department for Scientific and Industrial Research) in March 1952. The concrete foundations of what was to be known as the Mark I telescope were finished in May 1953. The circular tracks that make it possible for the telescope to move in azimuth were laid in March 1954. Problems in developing the electric drive motor system for the telescope caused considerable delays and after a change of contractor the system was finally delivered in the spring of 1957!

How Jodrell Bank was drawn into space tracking

The Mark I telescope was first controlled by computer (in azimuth) on 1 October 1957, but technical and financial troubles still plagued the telescope project. However, the dawn of the space age was just a few days away and the launch of Sputnik would give a new role to Jodrell Bank. The telescope was not used to listen to the bleeps of Sputnik on 20 and 40 MHz, because this could be done with very simple equipment, but rather to detect the presence of the carrier rocket of Sputnik 1 with the radar equipment used for obtaining echoes from meteors which was hurriedly moved to the big Mark I 250 ft dish. The enormous gain of the big dish coupled with the 150 kW transmitters on 120 and 36 MHz conclusively detected the Sputnik rocket on Saturday, 12 October 1957. Later, when Sputnik 2 was launched, Jodrell Bank again observed the carrier rocket (with the attached dog cabin) by radar.

Even though the telescope brought credit to Britain, sponsors were not flocking to solve the financial difficulties of the telescope project. But the immense size and capability of the telescope was recognized as an invaluable asset when the United States decided to initiate a crash program to send a probe to the Moon - the Able I project. The U.S. ground tracking installation for this and other projects in the Able series were clearly inadequate - the Able project and the US Army space probe (Pioneers III and IV) definitely needed Jodrell Bank. The USAF and its contractor STL, Space Technology Laboratories (a subsidiary of the Ramo-Wooldridge Corporation, later TRW) put trailers with equipment at Jodrell Bank and paid to use the telescope. Also, the exploits of the telescope in tracking US and Soviet space probes led, perhaps indirectly, to a donation from Lord Nuffield to pay off the telescope's remaining debt. The Nuffield Foundation had been part of the funding scheme for telescope from the outset (together with public funding from the DSIR) and now helped complete the construction effort.

As Sir Bernard Lovell explains in one of his books (1) there were arguments among the scientific staff as to the advisability of going after the space probes - taking away valuable observation time from radio astronomy. But, clearly, the first space probes explored regions of space where Jodrell Bank had a scientific interest; the Moon and the near-earth planets. Remember, these were exciting times and being part of this process of discovery must have been irresistible to Sir Bernard, the director of the observatory. Also, it put Jodrell Bank into the media focus as a main player in the early space age and as an authority on current events in space. Indirectly and directly it seems that the space tracking activities attracted funds to the telescope - money that could be put to good scientific use in the radio astronomy work.

While the early warning radars at Fylingdales Moor were being constructed Jodrell Bank was held in a sort of readiness to track Soviet ICBM:s by using the big antenna as a radar. The radar tracking of the Sputnik rocket bodies (and later Sputnik 3 itself) demonstrated that the telescope had the capability to detect missiles at great range and the telescope was given an interim ballistic missile early warning role. Presumably also this effort provided some much needed funding for the telescope.

Later, in the early 60's, there was not only the need to support US space probes, but also to help monitor the USSR space probes from an intelligence-gathering point of view. In the mid-60's the United States set up a "Deep-Space Collection" programme with stations at several points around the globe, including Jodrell Bank. Whether or not this brought a large financial advantage to Jodrell Bank is not known, but it probably did not work to its disadvantage.

In a sense, the USSR also used the capabilities of Jodrell Bank. In many circles the first Soviet lunar probe, Luna 1, launched on 2 January 1959, was simply not believed to have existed (See (8) ). This must have annoyed the Soviet authorities enormously, despite the fact that the transmission frequencies were announced directly after launch. For their second successful launch they decided to try to engage Jodrell Bank as a source of  independent verification of any claim of success. Therefore the USSR sent detailed instructions to Jodrell Bank how to find their second lunar probe, Luna 2, that was launched on 12 September 1959 and hit the moon the next day. Jodrell Bank provided scientific proof that Luna 2 actually reached the moon, and the USSR continued to provide pointing and frequency data to Jodrell Bank for a number of years.

Probably the Soviet Union felt uneasy about asking for such help after the US "Deep-Space Collection" programme was underway and Jodrell bank became part of this intelligence network. Despite any such possible misgivings, it seems that Jodrell bank was asked to monitor the Venera-4 landing (4) on Venus in October 1967. The reason for the Soviet interest was probably also that their own ground station network was not very capable in those early days and they wanted some back-up capability in case of a crisis. In effect, this also happened, when the Soviet ground stations lost contact with Venera-1 five days after launch and asked Jodrell Bank to try to detect signals from the probe when it passed near Venus three months later - but, alas, to no avail.

Space tracking exploits by Jodrell Bank

Nowadays, Jodrell Bank devotes its time entirely to radio astronomy. But the glory days of space tracking represent a story worth telling. This text is a modest attempt  to recount this tale.

The Able program

At the end of 1957 and early months of 1958 many persons and organizations in the U.S.A. were jockeying for positions to get the task of answering the "Sputnik challenge". The pressure from politicians in the U.S. executive branch and in Congress on those responsible for missiles and space development to quickly come up with significant space exploits was intense. The Air Force Ballistic Missile Division in Los Angeles (with the Space Technology Laboratories as their engineering organization) under Brigadier General Bernard Schriever was one organization that thought it had the necessary know-how and clout to do the job. The same was true for the U.S. Army Ballistic Missile Agency under General Medaris and with Wernher von Braun in charge of its engineering organisation in Huntsville, Alabama.

Thus, the White House announced on 27 March 1958 that it had approved a program "to determine our capability of exploring space in the vicinity of the moon and to obtain useful data concerning the moon". The program was announced by Defense Secretary Neil H McElroy. The Air Force Ballistic Missile Division in Los Angeles was assigned a program of three lunar probes using a "Thor-Vanguard" system with "a third stage to be developed". The Army Ballistic Missile Agency in Huntsville, Alabama was authorized to "undertake one and possibly two lunar probes" using modified Jupiter-C rockets. Overall responsibility for the lunar probe launches was assigned to the Defense Department's Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA).

The Air Force project had its roots in the "Able project" which was probably designed to provide a rocket that could test re-entry vehicle (RV) technology for the ICBM that had not yet been flown successfully. To achieve the speeds necessary to test a reasonably sized RV the USAF and its contractor the Space Technology Labs used a Thor IRBM with the second stage of the Vanguard as the upper stage. This combination was test flown three times in 1958, the first time less than a month after the White House announcement and the last less than a month before the first lunar probe attempt. (Launch dates for the Thor-Able 0 rocket are: 23 April, 9 July and 23 July 1958).

Obviously support from Jodrell Bank to the Able project was requested through various channels during the spring of 1958. The correspondence from the Able project office during this period contains details of the lunar probe. In a letter to Jodrell Bank from the AFBMD dated 6 May 1958 the radio systems of the probe are described: The telemetry transmitter would operate on 108.03 MHz at 1 watt with phase modulation (modulation index < 0.5 radians). There would be sub-carriers transmitted on the main phase-modulated signal. These subcarriers contained data on the magnetic field, the temperature of the retrorocket propellant, the deceleration of the probe (presumably to monitor the functioning of the retrorocket) and a meteorite microphone. The antenna for 108.03 MHz would be a "loop antenna" coated on the outside of the cylindrical portion of the space probe which would spin at 2-3 Hz. The Able-1 television system would use the same frequency (108.03 MHz) but with AM and a much higher transmitter power. The battery powering this transmitter would last only a few hours. The TV transmitter would be switched on by a timer 65 hours after launch.

The extreme haste with which the early lunar probe attempts were organized is evident from the correspondence. For example, a letter from George Mueller at STL dated as late as 19 May 1958 asked for the precise co-ordinates of the radio telescope at Jodrell Bank. (In the reply the co-ordinates were given as 53 degrees 14 minutes and 11 seconds north and 2 degrees 18 minutes and 22 seconds west.). Newspaper reports from Britain on 25 July 1958 talked about trailers marked "Jodrell Bank, U.S. Air Force, Project Able" arriving at Jodrell Bank in preparation for the lunar probe attempts. Professor Lovell declined to give any further comment to the press saying only that the US equipment would be used in conjunction with the observatory's own systems for joint work on "various satellite projects".

So, the use of Jodrell Bank for the Able project leaked out and the observatory was, for the first but not last time, engulfed in a media frenzy. The correspondence files reveal much about the efforts to handle the media and the public and their insatiable need for information. For example, the Jodrell Bank records contain a memo written by Lt. Col. W G Hingston entitled "Jodrell Bank Telescope. Record of events prior to launching of Lunar Probe." The memo deals with publicity aspects of Jodrell Bank's support for the project and how to control the flow of information. In an entry dated 8 August 1958 the memo says "Nothing was to be said by Jodrell Bank until the rocket had been launched" . The DSIR also sent a list of frequently asked questions about Jodrell Bank's support of the Able project and professor Lovell filled in the answers. This was intended to make it easier to handle the flood of press inquires.

Not only the public, but also colleagues in the radio astronomy field approached Sir Bernard to obtain information about how to track the Able probes. However, Jodrell Bank lived under the publicity rules set out by the US authorities. For example, a telegram from O Rydbeck, head of the Onsala Space Observatory outside Gothenburg in Sweden, was received on 5 November 1958 requesting information concerning the launch time, sidereal co-ordinates, frequency and modulation for the upcoming lunar probe. In the reply Prof. Lovell writes that he is "unable to answer without permission of US authorities" and asks Prof. Rydbeck to contact ARPA in Washington DC. This strict policy of not giving away details about frequencies of the received signals is evident from the correspondence. All letters from radio amateurs or other individuals asking for frequency information that I found in the files are marked no reply.

Signals from Explorer 4 were used (it transmitted on 107.997 and 108.03 MHz, practically the same frequencies at the Able lunar probe) to test the receiving equipment at Jodrell Bank to be used for the Able project. Well, the first moon probe attempt failed 77 seconds after launch on 17 August 1958 because of a failure of the turbo pump gearbox of the Thor first stage. On 11 October 1958 what came to be called the Pioneer 1 space probe was launched from Cape Canaveral (right) at 0842 UT. Jodrell Bank picked up telemetry from the probe ten minutes after launch. This probe did not reach the moon, but provided valuable data on the radiation belts of the earth. The third and last launch in this initial series of lunar probes in the Able project failed after launch at 0731 UT on 8 November 1958.

The U.S. Army/JPL lunar probes

The U.S. lunar probe baton now passed to the U.S Army. The army team again had the Caltech Jet Propulsion Laboratory (probe and ground system design) and professor James van Allen (radiation sensors) as members. This was the same team that built, launched and tracked the first U.S. satellite, Explorer 1. The probe was extremely small and had a telemetry system similar to that of the Able probes, but it operated on 960.05 MHz (instead of 108 MHz), a frequency later used for the Ranger series of lunar probes and for the first successful Venus probe, Mariner 2. Again, support from Jodrell Bank was needed. Preliminary contacts must have been taken with Jodrell Bank earlier during 1958 so that the necessary receiving equipment would be assembled, but the formal request for tracking support was made in a telegram from William Pickering, the director of JPL (see picture on the right) as late as on 19 November 1958! This was only 17 days before the launch of Pioneer 3, which took place from Cape Canaveral at 0545 UT on 6 December 1958 by a Juno 2 rocket.

Jodrell Bank picked up the Pioneer 3 probe that only reached one-third of the way to the moon. The disappointment over this failure was considerable and Wernher von Braun noted in interviews that a thorough shakedown of the systems of the Juno 2 was necessary before another attempt at the moon could be made. Therefore the next launch opportunity, which occurred on 2 January 1959, could not be used. As we shall see, the Soviet Union grabbed this opportunity!

After the Pioneer 3 launch U.S. space officials from STL visited Jodrell Bank on 10-11 December 1958 to outline co-operative efforts in space tracking during 1959. The memo setting out the details of the meeting is marked CONFIDENTIAL. The projects that were foreseen to need tracking support from Jodrell Bank during 1959 were "Army probe, February 1959: as in December 1958" and "USAF earth satellite (last 2 weeks in April 1959): Command: 401 Mc Telemetry: 378 and 108 Mc" as well as "USAF Deep space probes (early June 1959): Command: 401 Mc Telemetry: 378 Mc"

The U.S. Army Pioneer 4 probe was not launched until  0511 UT on 3 March 1959 and Jodrell bank picked it up 13 minutes after launch. Professor Lovell revealed to the media that it was "off course" already two hours after launch. It flew past the moon at 59200 km distance.

Supporting the Able project again

The next major support task to the U.S. space programme by Jodrell Bank was supposed to have been tracking the lunar orbiters (see picture on the right) launched by Atlas-Able rockets . On 24 September 1959 the booster for the first of these probes exploded at Cape Canaveral during a ground test. So, hopes of getting a lunar shot off on 3 October were therefore dashed. Instead, the Soviet Union launched Luna 3 around the moon on 4 October (see below). On 26 November 1959 the Pioneer P-1 probe was launched by an Atlas-Able from Cape Canaveral at 0726 UT, but the nose shroud was ripped from the vehicle and it went down in flames. This occurred at 70 seconds into the flight when second stage telemetry ceased. The mass of the lunar probe was 169 kg, and it seems to have contained a scanner camera for taking farside pictures.

The only really successful space probe in the Able project was Pioneer 5 which was launched by a Thor-Able rocket from Cape Canaveral into a solar orbit on 11 March 1960. This 43 kg space probe was originally conceived as a Venus probe, but after all the difficulties with the Able lunar probes the scope of the Pioneer 5 mission was scaled down to an interplanetary cruise. Jodrell Bank sent the command (on 401.85 MHz) that separated the probe from the last rocket stage when it was 8000 km from earth, In early April 1960 the command station in Hawaii had difficulties reaching the probe and Jodrell Bank started playing a bigger role in commanding the probe. The probe's 150 Watt transmitter on 378.21 MHz was last heard by Jodrell Bank on 26 June 1960 at a distance of 36.2 million kilometres!

A letter from W. M. Duke at STL dated 2 March 1960 found in the Jodrell Bank Archives requested the support of Jodrell Bank for the Able-5 project, the last two Atlas-Able attempts to reach the moon. STL wanted Jodrell Bank to receive 64 bps telemetry, while STL stated that its own RANTEC helix antenna (installed at J.B.) could handle the 8 bps telemetry. In April NASA announced the launch dates for these probes as 25 August and 14 November 1960. The probes were launched a month later than planned. On 25 September 1960 the launch (at 1513 UT) of the Pioneer P-30 probe failed when the second stage of the Atlas-Able did not ignite. The Pioneer P-31 probe was lost on 15 December 1960 when the Atlas-Able rocket explodes shortly after launch at 0840 UT and the Able program ended after almost three years!

The early Soviet Luna probes

Luna 1 - whizzing past the moon - did anyone hear it?

Luna 1 was launched from Baikonur at 1641:25 UT on 2 January 1959 and was intended to hit the moon, but missed its target by 6400 km because of "a human error in calibrating a direction finder" (12) . A telegram dated 8 May, 1959 from Professor Lovell was sent to the Committee on Science and Astronautics of the U.S. House of Representatives and its Special Subcommittee on Lunik Probe set up to investigate the claim by author Lloyd Mallan in his Book "The Big Red Lie" (8) that the first Soviet lunar probe was a hoax: "We did not succeed in detecting any signals from Lunik. Search was made with the large telescope over a frequency band covering 183.6 megacycles which was the stated tracking frequency during the night of January 3 to 4 when Lunik was said to be close to the moon. No tracking errors could account for failure because telescope beam was adequate to cover position of probe at time of close approach. Telescope was in similar operational condition which has enabled us to track Pioneer 400,000 miles. We conclude that Lunik was not transmitting continuously at least on this frequency during that night. Emphasize that we do not disbelieve in existence of lunar....." (6) . It is interesting to find copies of pages from Lloyd Mallan's book "The Big Red Lie" in the Jodrell Bank Archives that are stamped UNCLASSIFIED!

Luna 2 - the first spacecraft to reach another celestial body

On Saturday, 12 September, 1959 at 0639:26 UT (other sources say 0639:42) the space probe to be known to history as Luna 2 was launched from Baikonur by the three-stage 8K72 rocket based on Sergei Korolev's ICBM R-7. At 1400 UT the very same day the following telex was received at Jodrell Bank ( RED text is the RCA operator):

"JODRELL BANK. THIS IS NASA WASH DC DO YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION RELATIVE TO USSR LUNAR PROBE REPORTEDLY LAUNCHED THIS MORNING? THIS IS THE RCA TEX OPR. SIR APPARENTLY YR SUB IS UNATTENDED. IT IS TWO PM OVER THERE, SHOULDN'T SOMEONE BE THERE? CANNOT ANSWER THAT SIR. BEING A SATURDAY, THEY MIGHT BE OFF. ALL RIGHT FORGOT ABOUT IT BEING SATURDAY. WILL SIGN OFF THANKS."

In (1) and (58) Sir Bernard describes that when Moscow announced the launching of Luna 2 he was playing cricket (he was the skipper of the village team in neighbouring Chelford). Before the cricket match he had stopped by the Project Able trailers at the observatory and chatted with the U.S. crew. After having had an early lunch he headed for the cricket ground at 1230 UT to be in time for the match due to start at 1330 UT.  Just after leaving his home a child signalled him to stop his car and  told him "You must come back, you're urgently wanted on the phone". The duty controller at Jodrell Bank informed Sir Bernard that the Russians 'had launched  a rocket which would reach the moon on Sunday evening'. A reporter phoned and asked what Jodrell Bank 'was going to do about it'? To which Sir Bernard replied 'I am going to play cricket'. Having been unable to track Luna 1 and receiving very little help from the Russians in locating that probe he was not so keen on wasting the observatory's time on another moon probe. The cricket match took a tea break at 1550 UT. Sir Bernhard then phoned his colleague John Davies and agreed to meet at the observatory at 1830 UT. Sir Bernhard was still in a casual frame of mind and not particularly keen on going after Luna 2 until he unlocked the office with the telex machine. In Sir Bernards own words (58) :"And there, with the paper streaming out on the floor, was a message from Moscow giving precise details details of the frequencies of the transmitters in the Lunik and the co-ordinates for the latitude and longitude of Jodrell bank giving the time of lunar impact as 10 p.m. the following evening".

I found the antenna pointing data for September 12, 1959 in the Jodrell Bank Archives in the original teletype printout of a telegram timed at 1746 Moscow Time (1446 UT), some eleven hours after launch. The initial line of the telegram starts ETAT URSS GOVT.... .This is French and could mean it was a "telegram of state". Someone has written "19.992" with a pen on the telegram sheet. This of course refers to one of the frequencies used by Luna 2. So, at the time the telex inquiry from NASA came through the telegram from Moscow with the frequency and pointing data had not yet arrived.

In contrast to its failure to pick up Luna 1 earlier that year Jodrell Bank now promptly picked up signals. It may be interesting to examine the technical details of the receiving system. The antenna feed for 183.6 MHz was a folded wire dipole with a reflector and on 20 MHz a folded wire dipole without reflector was used. The bandwidth used to receive signals on 183.6 MHz was 5 kHz and on 750 Hz on 20 MHz (10) . Signals were recorded on tape and sent to the Russians. The tape recording of the signals on 19.992 MHz from Luna 2 were made with the tape recorder connected directly to the radio receiver, while the signals on 183.6 MHz were recorded via a microphone (11) . This is the reason for hearing voice announcements and timing information on the tapes with signals from Luna 2 on 183.6 MHz. Also, the local oscillator of the 183.6 MHz receiver was not under crystal control and the pitch variations heard on the tape sent to Moscow therefore were due to receiver drift.

On 13 September 1959, Moscow again sent pointing data for Jodrell Bank. The data series starts at 1700 UT, the time when the probe would rise above Jodrell's horizon and ends at 2100 UT, the expected time of hitting the moon!:

The announcement by professor Lovell that the signals from Luna 2 had ceased at 2102:23 UT on 13 September 1959 was the first confirmation the world received that an object made by humans had travelled from the earth to another heavenly body! I can remember how Radio Sweden broadcast a special "vigil" between 2000 and 2130 UT while waiting for confirmation of the impact on the moon. I listened to this broadcast live and I can clearly recall the feeling of participating in a historic event when the telegram about loss-of-signal at Jodrell Bank was read shortly after 2111 UT!. I was 13 years old - I will never forget it!

It is fascinating to see in the Jodrell Bank Archives how the doubters still thought the Russians were making it all up. A message to Lloyd Mallan (the author of the "Big Red Lie" (8) ) dated 15 September 1959 reads: POSITION OF ROCKET SIGNALS DID NOT AGREE WITH THAT OF MOON UNTIL END OF PERIOD. DOPPLER RECORD PROVES THAT ROCKET DID HIT THE MOON. J.G. DAVIES, JODRELL BANK.

Maybe it was in a desire to help dispel all the doubts about the Soviet feat or due to just plain courtesy that Jodrell Bank dispatched the Doppler frequency measurements made on the 19.992 MHz signals during the final phase of approach to the moon to Moscow on 17 September 1959. Tape recording of the signals were sent to Moscow on 9 December 1959 (11) .

Luna 3 - the first view of the moon's far side

In the small hours of 4 October 1959, a mere two years after the launch of Sputnik, the Soviet Union launched its most impressive space spectacular ever - Luna 3 - the first space vehicle to catch a view of the moon's hidden far side. The E-2A probe weighing 278.5 kg lifted off at 0043:39 UT on an 8K72 rocket from Baikonur. The space probe was placed in an earth orbit with perigee at 48280 km, apogee at 468300 km and an inclination to the equator of 55 degrees (13) . During its flight, that lasted until 29 April 1960 when it decayed in the earth's atmosphere, Luna 3 was to bring credit to its creators and put Jodrell Bank again into the media focus.

Soviet media announced that Luna 3 transmitted signals on 39.986 MHz that consisted of pulses 0.2-0.8 seconds long sent at a repetition rate of 1 +/- 0.15 Hz. The transmitter on 183.6 MHz was also used for tracking (trajectory determination). Information from the probe was sent at intervals of 2-4 hours/day. On 4 October 1959 the transmitters were to be switched on at 1300 MT (1000 UT) to operate for two hours (until 1200 UT) at a point 108000 km over 80 degrees east and 5 degrees south.

For Luna 3, the Soviet Union again provided Jodrell Bank with pointing information for its telescope during the Luna 3 flight. Such data were sent on 4,7,8,9 October 1959 and on several more days in October 1959. Therefore, Jodrell Bank successfully picked up Luna 3 less than ten hours after launch: Signals on 183.600 MHz were received at 1206-1220.25 UT on 4 October 1959 (this agrees reasonably well with the schedule announced by the Russians at launch - see above). Jodrell Bank kept their colleagues at NASA up to date with its tracking activities on a daily basis. Pointing information from the Russians were obviously also relayed to NASA (16) . In general, observations were sent both to the USA and the USSR. All data from the USSR were forwarded to the U.S., but not vice versa. As we shall see later, comprehensive reports including tape recordings were sent to Moscow after the flight was over. The reports to NASA were sent to the telegram address SPACE CONN NASA WASH DC (for the attention of an individual called Bryant) and in a message dated 5 October 1959, observations made on 5 October 1959 were described: Signals received on 39.986 MHz from 1035 to 1412 UT. At 1301 UT the frequency is fluctuating rapidly and at 1351 UT the frequency starts drifting down rapidly. Does this observation support a report (12) "that communications with the vehicle were intermittent at best and there was concern that no photographs would be received" ? Telemetry also indicated a serious overheating which threatened the mission but was overcome by sending ground commands (12) .

The closest approach to the moon occurred at 1416 UT on 6 October 1959 when Luna 3 passed over the lunar south pole at a distance 7884 km from the moon's centre.

Jodrell Bank observed Luna 3 again on 6 October 1959 (29) : "Signals received Oct 6 183.6 Mc/s only. 1342-1405.40 UT:15 sec on 15 sec off (probably the off period represents a frequency shift). 1405.40-1409.30 UT: No signals in band. 1409.30-1510 UT: usual bleeps. 1510-1538 UT: Modulation as in first period." There were two signals in the band with about 5 kHz separation (29) . Was the silence at 1405.40-1409.30 UT caused by the probe's passing behind the edge of the moon?

The 29 exposures of the moon's far side were taken at 0330-0410 UT on 7 October 1959 when the probe was 65567-68785 km from the moon's centre (15) . The film was then developed, fixed and dried on board. Thereafter it could be scanned with a light beam with up to 1000 lines per image for transmission to earth. Radio observations on 7 October 1959 were described as (30) : "Signals on 183.6 Mc/s 1400-1459 UT. 39.986 MHz for about 3 minutes before 1505 UT. The probe appeared to be 1-1.5 degrees above the elevation given by the Russians. CW at one of several frequencies near 183.6 MHz between 1400 and 1412. Bleeps from 1412 to end. Bleeps on 39.986 MHz. The two frequencies were not on together." This description of the signal does not seem to indicate that a picture transmission similar to facsimile was being made. Jodrell Bank made no observations of Luna 3 on 8 October (16) , but on 9 October signals were again received (see table for details).

On Monday 19 October 1959 newspapers (17) reported that Moscow media circles had started to talk about the fact that pictures had been taken of the moon. These reports appeared after the probe had come close enough to the earth to provide sufficient picture quality. Had the transmission of pictures failed the rumours would never had started, it was speculated (17) . The pictures of the moon's far side were distributed by tele-photo from Moscow late on Monday (UT) 26 October 1959 and created another space-age media frenzy. According to newspaper reports at the time the picture transmission to earth took place on 18 October 1959 (18) .

Jodrell Bank kept up contacts with the Russians even after their publication of the far side pictures. On 1 November 1959 a telegram was sent to AN USSR asking for "co-ordinates for the next transmission from Luna 3", and the first batch of tapes of signals from Luna 2 and 3 were sent to Prof. Nesmeyanov of AN USSR on 9 December 1959. In the accompanying letter Prof. Lovell thanked the Academy for the data with pointing information for the Jodrell Bank telescope. The final batch of Luna 3 tapes were sent to Akademi Nauk on 14 January 1960.

The story about Jodrell Bank's reception of Luna 3 signals could have ended here, but there is an interesting epilogue: On 17 January 1961 the director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, William Pickering, wrote to find out if Jodrell Bank had recorded pictures from Luna 3 and if JPL could have copies of the tapes. Prof. Lovell replied on 20 January 1961 by saying that "Yes, we have a considerable number of tape recordings" , and that he had asked Dr. J.H. Thomson to find the tapes, copy them and send them to JPL. Probably the CIA analysed the tapes sent to Dr Pickering, because in 1994, three decades later, a secret American assessment (14) of Jodrell Bank's Luna 3 recordings was declassified:

"The very weak signals returning to earth from Lunik III could not be picked up by standard Elint collection facilities and equipment. Through the co-operation of the University of Manchester in England, therefore, use of the 250-foot radiotelescope at Jodrell Bank was obtained. The Soviets announced that pictures of the far side of  the moon were taken between 0330 and 0410 UT on 7 October 1959. Jodrell Bank succeeded in getting a signal on the announced frequency of 183.6 megacycles between 1410 and 1445 UT that date. A ten -hour lag behind the actual picture-taking is not excessive: the film had to be developed, and then the electronic scanning and transmission had to wait until rotation of the earth brought the Soviet deep-space station in the Crimea into position to pick up the signal.

The graduate students working for Sir Bernard Lovell at Jodrell Bank, however, in recording their intercept, narrowed the receiver bandwidth so far, in order to increase signal-to-noise ratio, that they "clipped off" much of the video information. Confirmation that the Lunik III pictures released by the Soviets were valid thus rested on a single poorly recorded intercept from which it could be judged only that the picture was more likely of a test pattern than of the moon. The signal bandwidth, however, was compatible with the parameters announced by the Soviets, and on the basis of technical extrapolation it could be concluded that the Soviet lunar pictures were authentic."

This assessment is interesting. In my opinion all the evidence indicate that the actual picture transmission did not take place on 7 October, but rather some 11 days later. However, in (15) it is mentioned that a test pattern was transmitted, that two transmission rates were available: "a slower transmission at great distances, and a faster transmission on approaching the earth" and that image transmissions were made from distance of 467000 km (near apogee of the post-flyby trajectory). I think that the pictures sent at apogee were not good enough for publication. Perhaps only the test pattern was sent from near the moon and that this is what Jodrell Bank picked up, but did that really occur on 7 October? The description of signals on 7 October mentioned above does not seem to indicate that those who received them interpreted them as images. We know that the pictures were transmitted in some kind of facsimile format, frequency-modulated on the carrier.......

References and Notes

• Bernard Lovell , "Astronomer by Chance", McMillan Books, London, 1991, ISBN 0-333-55195-8
• James D. Burke , "Seven Years to Luna 9",: Studies in Intelligence, Summer 1966
• James D. Burke , "The Missing Link", Studies in Intelligence, Winter 1978
• "Venus 4 underscores U.S. delay", Aviation Week, 23 October 1967, p.26
• V.A. Kotelnikov , .M. Dubrovin, O.N. Rzhiga and A.M. Shakhovsky. "Reception and investigation of the properties of radio signals from Soviet Space Rockets".
• Hearings before the Committee on Science and Astronautics and Special Subcommittee on Lunik Probe, U.S. House of Representatives, Eighty-Sixth Congress, First Session, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington D.C., 1959. The hearings were held during the period May 11-29, 1959.
• Martin Caidin , "Race for the Moon". William Kimber Publisher, London 1960.
• The Big Red Lie, Lloyd Mallan, Fawcett Book no 417, New York, 1959.
• A letter from the AFBMD dated 6 May 1958
• J.G Davies, A.C.B. Lovell , Observations of the Russian Moon Rockets Lunik II and III, Space Research 1, Proceedings of the first COSPAR conference, 1960.
• Letter from Professor Lovell to Prof. Nesmeyanov of AN USSR, 9 December 1959.
• Asif A. Siddiqi , "First to the Moon", Journal of the British Interplanetary Society, Vol.51, pp.231-238, 1998.
• Leonid I Sedov , "The Orbits Of Cosmic Rockets Towards The Moon", presented at American Rocket Society's 14 the Annual Meeting, Sheraton Park Hotel,Nov 16-20,1959. ARS paper no 1051A-59.
• Henry G. Plaster , "Snooping on Space Pictures", Studies in Intelligence, Fall 1964.
• "The Other Side of the Moon", Translated from the Russian by J.B. Sykes, Pergamon Press, 1960.
• A telegram from Prof. Davies to SPACE CONN NASA WASH DC dated 8 October 1959. The telegram concluded "RUSSIAN PREDICTIONS FOR OCT 9 FOLLOW" .
• Swedish Daily Expressen for Monday, 19 October 1959, p. 12: "Lunik saw 2/3 of the moon's far side"
• Swedish Daily Expressen for Tuesday, 27 October 1959, centre spread: "Pictures from space: the far side of the moon".
• A letter from Prof. Lovell to Brian Harvey , dated 22 February 1966.
• A letter from Prof. Lovell to Martin Postranecky , Prague, dated 9 November 1965.
• A letter from Prof. Lovell to Martin Postranecky , Prague, dated 21 June 1966.
• A letter from Prof. Lovell to E.M. Shoemaker dated 11 February 1966.
• A transcript of a seminar on Jodrell Bank's reception of pictures from Luna 9 written by Eugene M Shoemaker
• A letter from Prof. Lovell to E.M. Shoemaker dated 6 April 1966.
• A message from M Keldysh at the Academy of Sciences of USSR
• A letter from John Crippen, Executive Secretary of "The Anti-Communist League of America, Inc." dated 5 March 1966.
• A telegram from Prof. Lovell to SATREV NY (newspaper?)
• J.G. Davies, Sir Bernard Lovell, R.S. Pritchard, F.G. Smith, "Observations of the Russian Moon probe Luna 9", Nature, February 26, 1966, pp. 848-850.
• A telegram to SPACE CONN NASA WASH DC dated 7 October 1959
• Second telegram to SPACE CONN NASA WASH DC from J.G. Davies dated 7 October 1959
• "Lunik 4 believed to have failed in Mission", Aviation Week & Space Technology, 15 April, 1963, p.38.
• "Soviets Launch Lunik 4", Aviation Week & Space Technology, 8 April, 1963, p.38.
• Mastery of Cosmic Space by the USSR, official TASS communiqués and materials from the central press 1957-1967, Nauka Publishers, Moscow 1971.
• A letter  from Mr Heinz Kaminski , of the Bochum Space Observatory in Germany, dated 30 September 1966, congratulating Prof. Lovell on the Luna 9 success and attaching data from Bochum's observations of Luna 10 during the period 3-5 May 1966.
• A letter to Hans Schnabel dated 17 June 1966 Prof. Lovell wrote that "We made measurements on Luna 10 only during the first few days of its career" . He goes on to note that Jodrell Bank determined the orbital period to be 3 hours.
• A letter to William Pickering , director of NASA JPL, dated 30 September 1966.
• Geoff Perry , day-to-day log, entry for 10 November 1968.
• Geoff Perry , day-to-day log, entry for 12 August 1969.
• K.W Gatland , "Robot Explorers"
• Swedish Daily Expressen for Wednesday, 18 September 1968: "Spacecraft rounded the moon. Who launched it?"
• Swedish Daily Expressen for Friday, 20 September 1968, quoting a Reuters telegram.
• Issue  No. 10, 1998 of the Russian magazine Novosti Kosmonavtiki
• Letter to professor Lovell from Mstislav Keldsyh of AN USSR dated 26 February 1966.
• A telegram to Jodrell Bank  from Akademi Nauk in Moscow dated 10 January 1963 gave details about the radio systems of Mars 1.  The telegram was in Russian, but the Cyrillic characters were transcribed in latin letters. Dr Stas Barabash at the Swedish institute of Space Physics in Kiruna has helped me translate this telegram.
• A telegram dated 10 April 1968 sent to "LOVELL WESBUROHOTEL NY" by R Pritchard.
• Brian Harvey , The New Russian Space Programme, John Wiley & Sons, 1996, p.130.
• The COSPAR bulletin for 1964 (date unknown, I have only kept the relevant pages)
• Flight International , 25 February 1965, "Jodrell Bank Tracks Zond 2".
• Flight International , 20 May 1965
• Flight International , 28 May 1964, "Zond 1 changes course".
• Flight International , 9 April 1964, "Soviet probe heading for Venus?".
• Pravda, 15 December 1962, "First flight to Planet Mars".
• Flight International , 22 June 1961, "Venus Probe Remains Silent".
• Donald F Robertson , "Venus - A prime Soviet Objective", Spaceflight, May 1992, pp.158-161.
• Timothy Varfolomeyev , "The Soviet Venus Programme",Spaceflight, February 1993, pp.42-43.
• Nature , Vol. 216, October 28, 1967, p.321, "Landing on Venus".
• Timothy Varfolomeyev , " Soviet Rocketry that Conquered Space, Part 5, The First Planetary Probe Attempts, 1960-64",Spaceflight, March 1998, pp.85-88.
• Bernard Lovell , 'The Moon Match', in "Summer Days" edited by M Meyer, Eyre & Methuen, London 1981, pp 123-131
• Biography of Babakin published in 1996.
• Hendrickx, Bart , "The Kamanin Diaries 1967-1968", JBIS Vol 53 No 11/12, Nov/Dec 2000, p.415
• Hendrickx, Bart , Siddiqi, Asif, Varfolomeyev, Timothy , "The tough  road travelled: A new look at the second generation Luna probes", JBIS, Vol. 53, 9/10, Sept/Oct 2000, p. 340