Cornwall set to become space training centre

March 14th, 2015

Cornwall is set to become a major player in space exploration when Goonhilly starts training the astronauts of the future.

The Goonhilly satellite station on the Lizard peninsula can ‘see’ satellites from as far away as the USA and Asia and has been a space exploration centre since 2011. It was originally built in 1962, and played a central role in broadcasting live events like Muhammad Ali’s Rumble in the Jungle, the Olympic Games, the Apollo 11 Moon landing, and 1985’s Live Aid concert.

However, BT closed it in 2008 before Goonhilly Earth Station Limited (GES) bought the site and turned it into a space science centre for space exploration and science research.

Now it’s set to become the only centre in Europe to offer a course teaching students how to operate spacecraft.

The news is the latest space badsed revelation to come out of Cornwall, after it was recently announced Newquay Airport has been shortlisted for use as a UK spaceport for satellite launches and space tourism.

Now a four day course will be held in June, to train science graduates who are interested in working in the space industry in how to operate satellites.

So if you’re interested in the course and looking for somewhere to stay while you’re doing it, why not try our Cornwall Cottages with a pool – the perfect place to relax after a day learning about satellites.