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!