Links
Dr Lucy Rogers' Website: http://www.lucyrogers.com
Quick Links
Listed in the Book "It's ONLY Rocket Science"
Places to visit (UK). See also Events page
Workshops and Talks for Schools etc. (UK)
Courses and Further Education (UK)
Listed in the Book "It's ONLY Rocket Science"
Name | Website | Comment |
The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT) | An educational organization with the goal of fostering Amateur Radio's participation in space research and communication. | |
Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) | Common working group of the national amateur radio and amateur satellite radio societies involved in Amateur Radio operations on board the International Space Station. | |
Belgian Working Group for Satellites | Group that co-ordinate and collate amateur's data about the flash period of satellites. The website is in Dutch. | |
Celestrak | Dr. T.S. Kelso's website, which provides a lot of satellite tracking and other information. | |
ESA | Website of the European Space Agency. | |
HearSat | Satellite radio signal monitoring website. | |
Heavens Above | Provides information needed to observe satellites as other spaceflight and astronomical information. | |
International Meteor Organization (IMO) | Ensures international cooperation of meteor amateur work. Collects meteor observations by several methods from around the world. | |
ISS Fan Club | Provides realtime information about the International Space Station. Most of the content is related to Amateur Radio. It is not affiliated to any official body or organization. | |
Mike McCants | Mike McCants' satellite tracking web pages. | |
NASA | NASA's website | |
NASA ISS Predictions | Sighting opportunities of the ISS, provided by NASA. | |
Space Track | Source for space surveillance data. Registration is required to access the site. | |
Spacewarn Bulletin | Monthly publication for satellite information. | |
Sven Grahn's Sounds from Space | Radio signals from space. | |
The Organisation for Weather Satellite and Earth Observation Enthusiasts | Provides help for amateur reception of weather and Earth imaging satellites which are already in orbit or planned for launch in the near future. | |
Visual Satellite Observer's Home Page | www.satobs.org | Provides information on all facets of visual satellite observation. |
Zarya | Information on space programmes and space research undertaken by the Soviet Union and Russia |
Shops etc.
Springer Books: http://www.springer.com/
Space Boosters - Online Store for Space Merchandise, Memorabilia & Collectables: http://www.spaceboosters.co.uk
Astro Info Services Limited - Information, Research, Publications and Presentations on the Human Exploration of Space: http://www.astroinfoservice.co.uk/
Societies etc. (UK)
British Interplanetary Society: http://www.bis-spaceflight.com
Royal Aeronautical Society: http://www.raes.org.uk/
Royal Astronomical Society: http://www.ras.org.uk
British Astronomical Association: http://www.britastro.org
Society For Popular Astronomy: http://www.popastro.com/
Vectis Astronoical Society (Isle of Wight, UK): http://www.vectis-astro.org.uk
Places to visit (UK) (See also Events Page)
Royal Gunpowder Mills, Waltham Abbey (Ex Rocket Propellant Manufacturing Site): http://www.royalgunpowdermills.com
Needles New Battery, Isle of Wight (Ex Rocket Testing Site): http://www.theneedlesbattery.org.uk/newbtty.shtml
Jodrell Bank Observatory, Cheshire: http://www.jb.man.ac.uk/viscen/
Workshops and Talks for Schools etc. (UK)
Out of This World Learning: http://www.out-world.co.uk/
Spaceflight UK: http://geocities.com/spaceflight_uk/
Island Planetarium: http://www.islandastronomy.co.uk
Courses and Further Education (UK)
Kingston University: http://www.kingston.ac.uk/astronautics
Brunel University: http://www.brunel.ac.uk
Hertfordshire University: http://herts.ac.uk
Authors and Science Writers
Stuart Clark http://www.stuartclark.com
Books
Films
Blast! The Movie http://www.blastthemovie.com
BLAST! the movie follows one scientist, Dr Mark Devlin, and his team through the excitement and anguish of a research project which aims to learn how stars are formed. The film focuses on the scientists, their lives and adventures, and so makes space science accessible to everyone.
The film follows the team on a journey from the Artic to the Antarctic and then on to the edge of the known Universe. With a tight budget, the scientists take a very hands-on approach to the design and build of a telescope. As this must then dangle from a huge helium balloon about 38 km above the Earth, there is a lot that can go wrong. Although a helium balloon launched to the edge of space seems relatively peaceful in comparison to the launch of a space rocket, it is in no way easy. As Mark Devlin says “Ballooning provides a training ground for students who will eventually be leading NASA.”
The personal sacrifices the scientists make are clearly seen throughout the film. Many leave their young families for weeks at a time and often miss important events, which can lead to some emotional stress. This, combined with the years they have dedicated to the project, highlights the huge gamble they have made on gaining good results.
This film will appeal to anyone with an interest in space and adventure, and should inspire future scientists and engineers with a glimpse of the exciting opportunities that exist in these careers.
Reviewed by Dr Lucy Rogers, Author of “It’s ONLY Rocket Science: An Introduction in Plain English”