23 January 2004 05:41
COSMONAUT OPENS SPACE CENTRE
A Russian cosmonaut landed in Cornwall yesterday to officially open a school's unique space programme.
Callington Space Centre, in South East Cornwall, is a new facility dedicated to promoting interest in astronomy and
space society, not only at the community college where it is based but within the wider community.
Special guests at the opening ceremony yesterday cosmonaut Colonel Alexander Volkov, a veteran of three missions into
space, and Dr Alexander Martynov who was responsible for the landing of remote probes on Mars and Venus for the Russian
Space Agency for 24 years.
Joking that he had looked down on Callington from space, Col Volkov praised the ambitious centre.
"I'm glad that the staff at this centre will help a lot of young people to understand, particularly space
technology, and how it could help them build a future career as engineers or scientists," he said through an
interpreter.
Dr Martynov added: "We know that it is not easy for young people to become engineers, doctors or scientists, we
have to help them and show them how interesting it can be. That's why centres like this are very important."
The Russian guests agreed to come to Callington following a successful visit by students to Russia for the International
Space Olympics. Students have also been to NASA's base in Florida.
Centre director Mike Grocott said the theme was "taking students of today into the world of tomorrow" but
stressed that the centre, which is to take delivery of the largest public reflecting telescope in Cornwall in the coming
weeks, would be a facility for everyone.
"There is a great opportunity out there and we need to make sure that students take that opportunity," he
told invited guests to the opening.
"But the opportunity is for all not just students it is for people of all ages because education and learning is
lifelong."
[Western Morning News] |
RUSSIA IN FACTS
