Space legend visits GB4FUN

GB4FUN – the RSGB’s amateur radio demonstration vehicle – played host to a very special guest in late November.

Legendary Russian cosmonaut Sergei Krikalev, U5MIR, took a break from
his duties as a speaker at a space conference in Leicester to visit GB4FUN. He chatted with GB4FUN’s operator Carlos Eavis, G0AKI, about his amateur radio operations from space.

Although he does not enjoy the same profile as Neil Armstrong and co, Sergei is arguably the greatest astronaut of his generation. He has spent a phenomenal 800-plus days in space, and is one of just a handful of astronauts to have served aboard both the MIR and ISS space stations. He also took part in the first joint US/Russian space shuttle mission in February 1994. He was also involved on the first ISS assembly missions.

Commenting on Sergei’s visit, Carlos said: “As we went through the different modes and radios in GB4FUN, his enthusiasm was very evident. He said that the work GB4FUN was doing in taking radio communications to students was very important.”

Sergei was in Leicester as part of the UK Students for the Exploration and Development of Space organisation’s conference at the National Space Centre. Both Sergei and Carlos gave talks at the conference which aims to encourage students to develop an interest in science and technology, in particular related to space.

When he is not doing lectures, Carlos tours the country in GB4FUN, demonstrating amateur radio and technology to school pupils. You can find our more about GB4FUN on the web at www.gb4fun.org.

Source: GB2RS News - Courtesy of the RSGB