GRPro
based in Pool Business Park, Redruth were commissioned by Barcelona University
Academy of Science, to manufacture one of our remotely operated rolling roof
observatories for their Baker Nunn Telescope project. The project involves the
installation of a 1 meter telescope ( which was purchased from the US Army and
had previously been used in the cold war to spy on Russian satellites) that will
be remotely operated from the University Campus in Barcelona, some 300 miles
away.
Situated
on top of Serra Del Montsec in the Pre Pyrenees LLeida, Spain at 6000ft. The
observatory is 5m high x 12m long and 5m wide and is constructed in Glassfibre
composite. The observatory was built in panel form and originally constructed
and commissioned at the GRPro factory prior to dismantling and shipping to
Spain. The build took 10 days in January 2009 when we experienced all manner of
weather conditions including a hurricane that swept through the North of
Spain/South of France resulting in the strongest winds in 14 years and the most
snowfall on site for 16 years. Jeremy Rainford M.D was assisted by Phill Reeves
(pictured) and Kevin Rainford in the construction with crane operation by STG
transports’ Wayne Wills and Adam Johns.
Matt
Way approached us in February asking if we would take some photographs with the
Joe Way banner to help publicise their magnificent fundraising effort as we were
about to return for final commissioning. The sun was shining and we got a
tan!
