Fri 28 Oct 2011, 1pm - Dusk. A live event at the former secret Rocket Testing Facility at West High Down, Alum Bay, Isle of Wight, PO39 0JH. Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of ‘Prospero’.

Quay Arts 2010 Open winner Katayoun Dowlatshahi has created Orbit – a new body of artwork for The West Gallery, Quay Arts, inspired by a former Cold War rocket testing site on the Island. With the support of National Trust, Astrium, Mullard - Space Science Laboratory and Arts Council England, she has co-ordinated a live event at West High Down, formally a secret Cold War rocket testing site, to mark the 40th Anniversary of Prospero - the only British built satellite to be placed into Earth’s orbit atop a British built rocket - Black Arrow, which was built and tested on the Island.

For the first time since the closure of the site in 1971, the event will see the return of working pulse jet rockets to the site by 11 apprentices from Astrium* in Portsmouth. The launch of a scale model of Black Arrow; three eminent speakers covering topics ranging from a historical, scientific and business perspective; a memory wall for those associated with the British Space Programme to contribute to either in the form of memories or artifacts; interactive activities for all ages, finally leading to a lantern launch at dusk. THE EVENT IS FREE!

*Astrium, A European Space Technology company.

PROGRAMME:

1 – 5pm: A team of 11 apprentices and engineers from Astrium will demonstrate working pulse jet rockets on the concrete gantries, powering the engines every 30 minutes. Warning – these rockets are loud.

1 – 5pm: An interactive memory wall to encourage all those who work or have worked within the space industry, their families and friends to donate photographs, artefacts as archives for the wall and to write significant memories they would like to share with the public. The memory wall will become part of The National Trust archives.

1 – 5pm: Water Rockets, pump up your own water rockets and see how high they go.

1 – 5pm: Rocket Races, create your own rocket out of tissue paper and balloons to race against each other, workshops start on the every hour.

1 – 5pm: Decorate a lantern into a colourful rocket with tissue paper ready to launch at dusk.

2pm: ‘Space and Society’ a talk by guest speaker Richard Peckham who is the Business Development Director for Astrium Limited in the UK and Chairman of UKSpace.

3pm: ‘Prospero’ a talk by guest speaker from Mullard Space Science Laboratory, University College London.

4pm: Talk by guest speaker historian Nicolas Hill, author of the Vertical Empire. TBC

5pm: Black Arrow Model Rocket Launch.

5.10pm: Count down to lantern launch at dusk (Please bring a battery powered torch for the walk back.)

The event is free but we ask you to book through Quay Arts Box Office on 01983 822490 or by emailing [email protected]

You can pre-book a return journey on a private coach from Ryde to Newport to visit the exhibition before travelling on to West High Down. For more information about costs and times please contact Quay Arts Box Office.

Refreshments and snacks are available from The National Trust kiosk. A larger cafe is sited at the Old Battery.

Parking is available below the Headland; charges will apply / half price for National Trust members. A Needles Breezer Bus runs every half an hour from Yarmouth to West High Down and back.

Children must be supervised at all times.

Orbit – Offsite is a live event linked with the exhibition Orbit in The West Gallery, Quay Arts, Sat 22 Oct – Sat 3 Dec 2011.

http://www.quayarts.org/event.aspx?id=3315

Photo Credit: Black Arrow launch from National Trust Archives, West High Down.