Radar tracking on Hirta is part of the Benbecula Rocket Range

In 1958 - in response to Sputnik 1 - Vanguard 1 was launched from Cape Canaveral > It is the oldest man-made satellite still in orbit, and is the same age as me. This naturally makes me feel quite uncomfortable. Vanguard’s and my own future have become connected in time and in space.

Sadly, after 6 years of hard work buzzing and beeping, Nasa proclaimed Vanguard 1 derelict (an official term). It is still up there haunting me though. Sputnik only lasted 3 months. On it’s 50th birthday Nasa scheduled some seminars to commemorate the event.

I went to Amsterdam on my birthday. I wish I had known about the commemoration - I could have looked up into the night sky and toasted our journey together into the void...

During the journey home on Islay I was delighted to see Ardbeg Distillery had it's own high-tech control systems in place.

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