Geoffrey Perry

Geoffrey E. Perry (1927–January 18 2000) was a physics teacher at Kettering Grammar School, Northamptonshire, England who, together with his students, deduced the existence of the previously-secret Plesetsk Cosmodrome in 1966 by analyzing the orbit of the Cosmos 112 satellite.

Related Topics:
1927 - January 18 - 2000 - Physics - Kettering Grammar School - Northamptonshire - England - Plesetsk Cosmodrome - 1966 - Cosmos 112

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The New York Times published his discovery shortly before Christmas in 1966.

Related Topics:
New York Times - Christmas

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Perry and his students (who formed the Kettering Group along with some other volunteers worldwide) continued their satellite tracking work for a number of years, using only inexpensive shortwave radio equipment and painstakingly using the Doppler effect to deduce the satellites' orbits. They were often able to deduce what various Soviet satellites were being used for, based on their telemetry. This information very likely known by Western intelligence agencies, but classified, so the Kettering Group played an important role in making information about the Soviet space program publicly available.

Related Topics:
Shortwave radio - Doppler effect - Telemetry

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Perry received an MBE in 1973, in the New Year Honours List. In 1974, Perry received the Jackson-Gwilt Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society. After retiring from teaching in 1984 he worked as a space analyst for the ITN television network.

Related Topics:
MBE - 1973 - 1974 - Jackson-Gwilt Medal - Royal Astronomical Society - 1984 - ITN

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