Goonhilly lights up to mark the arrival of the Olympic Flame (From Falmouth Packet)

Goonhilly lights up to mark the arrival of the Olympic Flame

5:20pm Tuesday 15th May 2012 in News

The world famous giant antennas at Goonhilly Satellite Earth Station, near Helston, will be lit up with red, white and blue coloured lights on Friday, 18 May to mark the arrival of the Olympic Flame into Cornwall.

The Goonhilly Satellite Earth Station has an historical link with the Olympic Games. In 1968 (Mexico Games) Goonhilly received the first colour TV transmissions from the Olympics for distribution to The UK and Europe and in 1980 (Moscow Games) Goonhilly received transmissions from The USSR and relayed transmissions to The USA.

2012 also marks the 50th Anniversary of Goonhilly receiving the very first transatlantic TV transmissions (11th July 1962) via the famous TELSTAR Satellite Each of Goonhilly’s three largest 30 metre dishes will be illuminated with red, white and blue lighting between 7pm and 11.30 pm on Friday, 18 May to mark the arrival of the Olympic Flame at RNAS Culdrose on board British Airways flight ‘BA2012’. At least one of the earth station’s two 19m diameter dishes will also be illuminated to show the Cornish flag of St.Piran (White cross on Black background).

The illuminations will then continue over the following three nights, until Monday, 21 May. The dishes will then be illuminated in June as part of the celebrations for the Diamond Jubilee and July to celebrate Goonhilly’s 50th.

Piran Trezise , Director of Operations at Goonhilly Earth Station Ltd, said “It is fantastic to be able to contribute to the celebrations in Cornwall to mark the arrival of the Olympic torch and we are delighted to help celebrate in this way - especially considering the links Goonhilly has with historic transmissions of the Olympics and because 2012 marks a big year for Goonhilly.” “This is a fantastic addition to the great range of celebrations taking place across Cornwall and a terrific welcome to the arrival of the Flame into the UK at Culdrose”. said Sam Groom Lead Co-ordinator for the Olympic Torch Relay in Cornwall.

2012 looks set to be a very special year for everyone at Goonhilly. As well as the plans to illuminate the antennas as part of the celebrations for both the Olympic Torch and Diamond Jubilee, the site is also set to undergo a major upgrade and open a new Space centre to the public later this year.