Visit to RAF Menwith Hill

30 Rotarians, wives and friends visited the RAF Menwith Hill location that is run by the USA Department of Defense in coordination with the UK Ministry of Defence and GCHQ. The facility records whatever is happening in the thousands of satellites that now circle the earth and forwards the information to the USA, GCHQ in the UK and other NATO partners.

The visit consisted of being shown where the data is downloaded from the satellite dishes and is then boosted in strength and forwarded onto the relevant partners. There was also a short history satellites in space from a member of the technical staff. Then we were taken into one of the geodesic dome buildings that cover the satellite dishes to stop them being disturbed by the weather and accumulating grime. Most of the party climbed the stairs inside to get a view from the top of the dome. Afterwards we were taken to the community centre or as our American friends call it the community center. Here we were given a talk by the man in charge from the RAF side of things and a deputy of the U.S. person in charge about the purpose of the site, its development over the years and its likely future.

After a totally fascinating and frank presentation where many questions were answered the majority of us then headed to The Hopper Lane Hotel for a welcome warming meal that had been organised by Graham Robinson. The good food and convivial company were much appreciated after a blustery night on the moors.

For details of the satellites currently in space see http://stuffin.space/ where you can interact with this map of the satellites: -