Antenna anniversary for British broadcasting

Date: 13/7/2012

British broadcasting has been celebrating a special antenna anniversary 50 years after the first transatlantic broadcast via satellite took place.

Around 300 former workers on the project, which saw pictures from the US sent via the Telstar satellite to Goonhilly, celebrated the half-century milestone by returning to the Cornwall site where the signal was received, the BBC reports.

A 26-metre dish - named Antenna 1 and often referred to as Arthur - was commemorated as part of the proceedings.

Des Prouse, a former engineer at Goonhilly, said there should be great pride throughout the county that it has played such an important role in modern communications.

Mr Prouse stated: "From 110 years ago, with Marconi and the first radio telegraphy and then 50 years ago with Telstar and the first transatlantic television, it's marvellous that it all happened in Cornwall."

Despite the site ceasing satellite operations in 2006, the government is planning to revamp the antenna and construct a radio telescope station at the location.

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Posted by Jason Page