Page 60 - Leonard Tebbenham

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Goonhilly 2 Space Communications Station

This second earth station at Goonhilly was built in 1968 and became operational in January 1969.
The Marconi Company entered the space age and provided the radio expertise and equipment to
make the antenna and associated equipment, using its experience to enter the Satellite
Communications field. The 90 foot diameter dish weighed 955 tons and rotated on a small track
powered by two 15 horsepower DC motors. It could carry up to 400 telephone circuits and a
television channel simultaneously via the Intelsat III satellite.

It had a claim to fame when a satellite over the Atlantic Ocean failed prior to the investiture of
Charles, Prince of Wales at Caernarvon Castle in June 1969. A new satellite over the Indian
Ocean was rushed into service to route signals east via Japan and another Pacific Ocean satellite
to reach the west coast of the USA for American audiences to enjoy the event. Leonard was one
of six Marconi engineers who realigned the complex microwave radio equipment to make the
alternative transmission route possible.
The photograph shows Leonard with his colleague Ron Imm relaxing after completing the work.