c h r i s t o p h e r r i l e y
a selection of articles & news pieces
The Guardian “Sound restored to mission control film shot during Apollo 11 ” – 20-07-10
When Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed on the moonon 20 July 1969, Nasa used two film cameramen at mission control in Houston to capture the moment back on Earth. The footage has been regularly seen in the decades since but it has always lacked a synchronised soundtrack, which never made it into the archive with the film.
BBC News “The Magic of Apollo ” – 15-07-09
Project Apollo might have been commissioned as a feel good project to boost the morale of a bruised superpower, but it was conceived as a piece of pure scientific exploration. In his final essay marking the 40th anniversary of Apollo 11 - which launched on 16 July 1969 - Dr Christopher Riley looks back at the part scientific curiosity played in inspiring the Moon landings.
The Guardian online “The moon walkers: Twelve men who have visited another word” – 15-07-09
The 12 members of the most exclusive club in human history had many things in common. All came from a highly technical background and all but one studied aeronautical or astronautical engineering. Growing up, many had been Boy Scouts and even more were active members of their University fraternities. They all went on to study for further degrees – many at military test pilot schools – and almost all of them saw active service in cold war skies, often flying nuclear weapons behind enemy lines.
The Guardian - G2 “The 400,000 strong backup team ” – 02-07-09
Falling back from the moon at almost seven miles a second, the crew of Apollo 11 took it in turns to broadcast their thoughts about what their mission meant. Buzz Aldrin spoke not just of it being three men on a mission to the moon, but of their flight symbolising the insatiable curiosity of mankind to explore the unknown. Mike Collins talked about the complexity of the Saturn V and the blood, sweat and tears it had taken to build. And Neil Armstrong thanked the Americans who had put their hearts and all their abilities into building the equipment and machinery that had made the journey possible.
BBC News “Rendezvous around the Moon” – 18-05-09
Exactly 40 years ago, Apollo 10 blasted off Earth; its mission in the words of Commander Tom Stafford "to sort out the unknowns and pave the way for a lunar landing". Continuing his series of essays marking the 40th anniversary of the moonshots, Dr Christopher Riley reflects on Nasa's method for landing on the Moon and the Apollo legacy of space rendezvous.
BBC News “The 'flight of the Spider'” – 12-03-09
Forty years ago this week, mankind's attempts to land on the Moon took a giant leap forward with the maiden spaceflight of the Apollo Lunar Module. Continuing his series of essays for the 40th anniversary of the Moon landings, Dr Christopher Riley reminds us of the importance of the often overlooked Apollo 9 mission and the momentous message one of its crewmen brought back to Earth.
BBC News “Happy Birthday Earthrise” – 24-12-08
Forty years ago, the biggest TV audience in history tuned in to watch humankind's first close encounter with another world, as the crew of Apollo 8 reached lunar orbit. Here, the Apollo historian and film-maker Dr Christopher Riley gives his perspective on the mission and how that Christmas Eve of 1968 changed the world.
(most popular BBC SCI/TECH article - Christmas Day / Boxing Day 2008)
BBC News “A view from the cosmic shoulder” – 06-09-06
Astronomers have discovered over 200 new worlds orbiting our closest 5,000 stars; all this despite modern telescopes lacking the power to see planets beyond our Solar System.
BBC News “We Choose to go to the Planets” – 10/11/04
The BBC's new science series Space Odyssey: Voyage To The Planets is part drama - the gripping story of five astronaut-explorers on the ultimate expedition to the planets.
BBC News “Pushing frontiers in TV Space” – 08/11/04
What would it be like to take a six-year trip around our Solar System? A major new science series from the BBC imagines just such a journey.
BBC News “Shaken back to health” – 15/05/02
The Italian cosmonaut who flew with space tourist Mark Shuttleworth last month is completing an experiment that could have major implications for the way we treat osteoporosis sufferers.
BBC News "UK's first impact crater discovered"
- 01/08/02
Oil geologists have stumbled across an ancient impact crater under the North Sea, 130 kilometres (80 miles) east of England's Yorkshire coast.
(most read article on BBC News - August 2002)
BBC News
"Robot insect takes to the air” –
11/04/01
Engineers have test flown a prototype of the world's first robotic insect. It is hoped that future generations of this curious craft could carry tiny spy cameras into buildings.
BBC News
"Glowing plants reveal touch sensitivity” – 17-05-
00
US scientists have engineered a plant which glows when touched, creating a unique window into how plants sense being handled.
BBC News
"In the Leonids Lair” 18/11/99
By BBC Science's Dr Chris Riley on board Nasa's Leonid mission jet from Tel Aviv, Israel, to the Azores.
BBC News
"Voyage through a comet’s trail”
– 17/11/99
Early on the morning of Thursday 18 November, in its annual encounter with the dusty trail of comet Tempel Tuttle, the Earth will collide with a trillion fragments of ice - sending shooting stars hurtling through the night sky.
BBC News “When worlds collide” – 05/05/99
Early on the morning of Thursday 18 November, in its annual encounter with the dusty trail of comet Tempel Tuttle, the Earth will collide with a trillion fragments of ice - sending shooting stars hurtling through the night sky.
BBC News
"Return to mission Leonid” –
04/12/98
Chris has written this account of the mission which sent two aircraft chasing the storm over Asia on the night of 17/18 November
BBC News
"An invitation to the firework
party” – 17-11-98
Chris Riley is travelling with 40 scientists and engineers as they fly two planes directly under the Leonid meteor storm on the night of Tuesday, 17 November.