Topic: The Herschel Space Telescope - BBC Radio 4 Today

[GillE]

There's the first of two programmes about the Herschel Space Telescope on BBC Radio 4 today at 11.00 am.  The next programme will be broadcast in a week's time.

Here's the synopsis of programme one:

Following the engineers and astronomers who are working on the biggest telescope ever sent to space, in one of the most important missions in the history of European spaceflight. Jonathon Amos joins Professor Matt Griffin of Cardiff University and his international team as they aim to peer through the areas in space that are invisible to other telescopes. This is the story of how the team is aiming to solve the mystery of galaxy and star formation, and how these processes eventually gave rise to life-bearing planets like Earth.

In this episode, the team approach the biggest milestone in their 20-year project - the launch of their work on a rocket from a spaceport in French Guiana. Will it all go safely?

I thought it might appeal to all you space buffs out there .

[Clive]

Thanks Gill, I will certainly listen to that.  We were fortunate enough to have one of the guys from Cardiff Uni to give us a talk on Herschel just a couple of months ago.  His whole career has revolved around this project.  He and his colleagues were watching the lift-off by satellite link and the link went down just at the crucial moment!   

[sam]

looks interesting, will have to look out for it...

[Rik]

the link went down just at the crucial moment!   

Life's like that.

[GillE]

If anyone's interested, I recorded it .  The file is large (26.5 MB) but at 128kbps I'm sure it could be re-encoded to a lower quality or even split into parts.

[Clive]

Damn!  I didn't notice that it was 11 am and forgot about it.  I was at home and could have easily switched on the radio.    It might be on BBC i-Player in a day or so but if not then I can probably obtain a copy from my sources at Cardiff.        

[sam]

If anyone's interested, I recorded it .  The file is large (26.5 MB) but at 128kbps I'm sure it could be re-encoded to a lower quality or even split into parts.

Oh I would be if you don't mind - do you reckon you could email a file that big?

[GillE]

You should have mail fairly soon, Sam .

[sam]

thanks! 

[Rik]

You might like to try:

http://www.yousendit.com/

Easier than email for large attachments and free if you restrict yourself to single files (or a zip file of multiples).

[GillE]

Episode two was broadcast this morning.  I'd forgotten about it, but thanks to Radio Downloader that's not a problem .

[Clive]

I'm not very good at this radio-listening malarky.   

[Rik]

First plug the set in...

[Clive]

 

[Rik]