Patrick Moore & The Sky at Night Win Sir Arthur Clarke Awards

19 Apr 2007

The 2007 Sir Arthur Clarke Awards were presented on Saturday April 14 at a gala dinner which closed this year’s conference of the British Rocketry Oral History Programme (BROHP). The awards, known affectionately as the Arthurs, are the space equivalent of the Oscars®, and, like the Hollywood event, this was a star-studded occasion, held at the prestigious Charterhouse School in Surrey.

There were ten main awards, plus a surprise extra.

The award for Best Corporate / Team Achievement went to The Mars Exploration Rovers Team. It was presented by Alistair Scott of EADS Astrium, prime sponsors of the BROHP conference. He announced to the audience that the team was represented by a very special guest, the Principal Investigator for the project, Steve Squyres, who had especially flown from a conference in Barcelona before returning to the USA. He then added; “The rest of the team are here in spirit - if not in opportunity!”

On accepting the award on behalf of the team, Steve Squyres said; “The rovers are now 1,167 days into their 90-day mission! We’re very tired! The success of this mission is testimony to the efforts of an absolutely remarkable team of more than 4,000 people, and what characterises everyone is a passion for the exploration of Mars.”

The award for Best Space Reporting was presented by populariser of science, Nigel Henbest, and went to writer and broadcaster Robin Scagell. Robin was on a Dark Skies astronomy trip in Wales, and was represented by another space writer, Paul Sutherland.

The nomination was for Robin’s regular appearances on Sky News and BBC News 24, which have helped to bring the wonder of space exploration to the general public. Paul pointed out that Robin has also been a leading name in promoting not just space science but also astronomy in this country for a very long time.

The award for Achievement in Education was presented by Gareth James, Chair of the Space Education Council, and went to The International Space School Education Trust.

The ISSET space schools help teachers inspire pupils by using the wonder of space exploration. Their competitions such as “Edge Into Space” have the lucky winners meeting astronauts and space scientists at Cape Canaveral and Houston.

Director of ISSET, Chris Barber, quoted a space school participant, who said; “The ISSET programme has introduced me, through space, to what humans can achieve, and made me determined to really make something of myself.” Chris said; “That’s our aim with young people all over the country.”

The winner of the award for Best TV / Radio Presentation was announced by Rod Stevenson from Costessey High Shcool, who inspire pupils flying model rockets.

The winner was The Sky At Night Team, “for its pioneering work in presenting astronomy and space to the public, and for doing it for the last 50 years.” As the team are very busy they could not be present, and the award will presented at Sir Patrick Moore’s home in Selesy, at a special Sky At Night celebration.

The award for Best Written Presentation was presented by Nick Hill, former master at Charterhouse and the author of “A Vertical Empire”, about British rocketry. The award went to “Space on Earth” by Charles Cockell, who suggests that environmentalists and those favouring space exploration actually have the same objective - to ensure that humanity has a home. He calls for both groups to work together, explaining that technologies which will help us on Earth, such as wind power and solar energy, are also those we will use in space and on other worlds.

Charles said; “It’s always bemused me that environmentalists sometimes regard space exploration as a waste of time and money, and often space explorers view environmentalists as people who are quite introspective and can’t see the vision of exploring space. So the reason for this book was to contribute to the debate on how these two challenges could be synthesised into one vision for our human future.”

The next award was something slightly different; the George Abbey Award, named for the former director of the Johnson Space Center in Houston. George was the special guest at this year’s BROHP conference. He watched an extraordinary presentation late on Friday night, which showed the activities of a special rocketry team, and it was decided that this was something which just had to be recognised. The award “goes to the team whose space achievement made us laugh the most - The Reliant Robin Team!” This was the team who launched a Space Shuttle made from a Reliant Robin 3-wheeler, shown on the BBC’ “Top Gear”.

The Sir Arthur Clarke Awards take the form of a solid glass block in the proportion of the monolith from “2001: A Space Odyssey”. Etched onto the award is the diagram from Sir Arthur’s 1945 paper on global satellite communications. George Abbey presented paper versions which featured a photo of the Reliant Robin launch to team members Damian Hall, Colin Rowe, Richard Osborne and Chris McFarlane.

The award for Best Individual Achievement was presented by Bo Maxwell, Managing Director of The Mars Society UK.

When it came to considering the nominations for Best Individual Achievement, the judges decided that there was one that stood out so much, they took the decision not to have a short-list, but to declare that entry the winner. The award went “to a planetary investigator whose work is being followed by millions of people as his robots continue their extra-ordinary travels across the surface of Mars” - the Principal Investigator for the Mars Exploration Rovers, Steve Squyres.

Professor Squyres said; “It is a curious feeling to be singled out for an individual achievement for what is definitely a team sport. So I will only say that this is given very generously and received very thankfully.”

The Inspiration Award was presented by John Holt of the Arthur C Clarke Foundation. He read a message from Sir Arthur who said that he was taking an interest in the commercial ventures of space flight and would like to make such a flight himself. It should be noted that Sir Arthur will be 90 this December, though John Holt added; “There is a plot afoot within the Foundation to make it happen!” The winner of the award was Sir Patrick Moore.

Patrick’s entire career as a TV astronomer has been one that has inspired millions of people, young and old, with an interest in astronomy and space exploration. Unfortunately, Sir Patrick’s mobility is such that he was unable to be present, but he will receive his award at the Sky At Night celebration at his home.

The award for Outreach Award for the Public Promotion of Space went to Lord Sainsbury. The announcement was made by a previous winner, Colin Pillinger, who said; “Lord Sainsbury, who was my special mentor for beagle 2, has done so much over a number of years to support British space science, and has probably done more to put it back on the map than any other politician.”

The award was accepted by Ian Gibson, from the British National Space Centre, who said; “Lord Sainsbury has made a tremendous impact in increasing the budget for science. He also has a real interest in space and has done a tremendous amount for all of us, such as at the ESA Ministerial and in promoting UK space in China.

In addition to these awards, there is one which is completely independent of the judging panel, for it is Sir Arthur’s Special Award, given to a recipient of his choice. This year, the award goes to the writer Ray Bradbury.

Jerry Stone, Director of the Sir Arthur Clarke Awards, gave a tribute, which said in part; “His name will be immediately familiar to many of you; if not, you will be likely to have heard of Fahrenheit 451, The Illustrated Man, Something Wicked this Way Comes, R Is For Rocket, and The Martian Chronicles. In all, Ray Bradbury has published more than thirty books, close to 600 short stories, and numerous poems, essays and plays. But his reputation as a writer of courage and vision was established with the publication of The Martian Chronicles in 1950, which describes the first attempts of Earth people to conquer and colonize Mars, and the unintended consequences.

“It is highly appropriate that at a time when we are obtaining our best views of Mars, from orbit and on its surface, that Sir Arthur should choose to give this year’s Special Award to someone who created a unique view of mankind’s future on the Red Planet.”

Ray, now 85, lives in California and could not be present at the awards, but sent a message which read; “It is a great honour to receive the Sir Arthur Clarke Award because it is more than an award from Sir Arthur: it is the soul of a young man named Arthur, who came to my house for lunch fifty years ago. Our friendship began when both of us were little known in the world and had only published a book or two. We were both souls giving our heart out to writing and immediately taking to one another's personality because we got on so well on that day so long ago.

”This award is very nice -- it comes from Sir Arthur Clarke -- but even better, my old friend, who was so young with me and so unknown with me, so many years ago, puts out the arms of his soul to embrace me. I accept that embrace and his love and I thank him and all of you for this grand night and this grand award.”

The final award is a gift from the Directors of the BROHP conference, the Lifetime Achievement Award, which was presented by last year’s winner, Reginald Turnill, who covered manned spaceflights right back to Yuri Gagarin in 1961.

This year the award went to Eric “Winkle” Brown, former chief test pilot at the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough. Eric is in the Guinness Book of World Records, having flown a staggering 487 different aircraft, including the suicidally dangerous Me163 rocket plane.
Reg said; “He’s been a hero of mine for many years, and I’ve no doubt that he’s the hero of everyone who is present tonight.” Although Eric is “pretty retired now, being 88”, Reg then listed all the lecture tours and presentations that Eric is still making in Europe and the USA, and that a new generation is learning of his exploits through these talks and his autobiography, “Wings On My Sleeve”.

In accepting the award, Eric asked; “What does achievement mean? To me, it’s the fulfillment of a dream. In April 44 when I was at RAE Farnborough, I was nominated to fly the first aircraft which we hoped would break the sound barrier. It was not to be, because the government intervened when we were 82% ready to go, but on the way, I was projected into the jet age and then the rocket age. It was a wonderful life and it was a dream come true. “But today I stand here and look at this sea of faces in front of me and there are so many who have made achievement, and it is a great honour to be in your company.”

One major difference from the film awards is that nomination for the Arthurs come from the public. The call is; “If you have been impressed, intrigued or inspired by some aspect of space exploration, then submit your nominations for the Sir Arthur Clarke Awards.” Anyone can go to the website at www.clarkeawards.org and suggest nominees for the 2008 awards.

The awards organiser, Jerry Stone, is a freelance presenter on astronomy and space exploration, and has promoted space for over 35 years. He said; “The UK is a world leader in many aspects of space research, and many of the nominees should be regarded as heroes in their field. Their names may not all be widely known by the public, but they richly deserve an honour such as this. The UK should be very proud of its achievements in space research and exploration, and we look forward to recognising even more next year.”

A DVD of the awards event will be available in due course.

The Judging Panel

An invited panel from the UK space community drew up the shortlist of categories and nominees. Some members are winners of previous year’s awards.

Jerry Stone Director of the Sir Arthur Clarke Awards
Lesley Wright Co-organiser of the BROHP conference. Chair of the judging panel
Claire Etherington Chair of UK Students for the Exploration & Development of Space
John Harlow President of the British Interplanetary Society
John Holt The Arthur C Clarke Foundation.
Gareth James Chairman of the Space Education Council
Andy Lound UK Co-ordinator for the Planetary Society
Bo Maxwell Managing Director of the Mars Society UK
Pat Norris Chairman of the Royal Aeronautical Society Space Group
Colin Pillinger Professor of Planetary Sciences at PSSRI
Chris Riley Science writer, broadcaster and film-maker
George Scoon European Space Agency (Retired)
Alistair Scott Communications and Public Relations, EADS Astrium
Martin Shelley Space Education Consultant
Michael Simpson President of the International Space University
David Southwood Director of Space Science for the European Space Agency
Nick Veck Chairman of UK Space
David Williams Director General of the British National Space Centre
John Zarnecki Director, Centre for Earth, Planetary, Space & Astronomical Research

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