Goonhilly Satellite Earth Station

Goonhilly Satellite Earth Station was the largest satellite system in the world. It is situated on the Lizard Peninsula in England. The owner of BT Group is limited since the end of 2008 on the satellite station on the former base of the Royal Air Force in Madley ( Herefordshire ) and went out of business in Goonhilly at this time for financial reasons.

The information presented on the site of 61 satellite antennas were used for communication (especially satellite phones were operated by the Indian and Atlantic Ocean), also they were for program transmission to satellites (including Eutelsat, Astra ) was used. Last but were still only 25 antennas in use. Goonhilly remains an international communications center; by submarine cable (SEA- ME-WE 3) the station is connected to many parts of the world.

The station was opened in 1962 as one of the world's first satellite stations and initially included only a satellite antenna ( Name: Arthur, diameter 29.5 m). It is now the world's longest-serving and is now a listed building (Grade II). Over time, the number of antennas continuously grew. The current largest is Merlin with a diameter of 32 meters. It is movably mounted so that it can be moved a few meters using rails.

The antennas of the Goonhilly Satellite Earth Station are named after characters of the Arthurian legend. A visitor center, which informed up to 80,000 tourists per year in a clear way through the satellite center, was closed in March 2010.