This is an area that advanced with developments in the rest of the world. Initially, calculations relied on a combination of tables of logarithms, slide rules and hand drawn graphs. With time it evolved through mechanical and electronic calculators to micro and then personal computers.
| Item |
Purpose |
Note |
Currently Residing |
| Globe with Orbit |
Analogue computer |
Small Earth globe on stand with added circular orbit - adjustable for inclination
Originally the property of Isabel Perry
|
Geoff Perry Collection, passed to Science Museum, London in 2018. |
| Elliott 803 mainframe |
Orbital computations from observations |
Located CWS Corset Factory, Desborough, Northamptonshire
Used by Geoff Perry with programming assistance from Ron Smith |
Dismantled when became obsolete |
| Calculator - Mechanical |
Calculations and predictions from observations |
David Muggleton identifies it as a Lagomarsino-Numeria of Italian manufacture. It looks like a Lagomarsino-Numeria model 5905.
It has a moveable carriage with hand-cranked internal rotors - Geoff was about the only person who could use it to calculate square roots!
Can be seen in the (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph) photograph on the Wonderstuff album cover - on the bench in front of Graham Coleman. |
Unknown, formerly School property |
| Elliott 4120 mainframe |
Orbital computation from observations |
Located at the Shoe and Allied Trades Research Association (SATRA) at Kettering
Used by Geoff Perry assisted by Ron Smith |
Dismantled when became obsolete |
| ICL 1900 mainframe |
Orbital computations from observations |
Located at County Offices, Northampton
Used by Geoff Perry from terminal at Kettering Technical College, St Mary's Road |
Dismantled when became obsolete |
| Orrery - Earth Orbit |
Display of sub-satellite point |
Driven by electric motors - capable of operation in real time
Rotating globe with LEO satellite, adjustable inclination and orbital period
Built by retired engineer Frank Lewin of Kettering |
Geoff Perry Collection, passed to Science Museum, London in 2018. |
| Orrery - Solar System |
Demonstrate Venus and Mars launch windows |
Shows planetary motion to scale, Earth together with either Mars or Venus lights up when a Hohmann ellipse launch window is open
Operated by hand
Built by retired engineer Frank Lewin of Kettering |
Geoff Perry Collection, passed to Science Museum, London in 2018. |
| Calculator - Electronic |
Satellite calculations |
30 step programmable - effectively a pre-computer, very expensive to buy at the time
Presented to Geoff Perry by Walter Annenburg, US Ambassador to the UK |
Geoff Perry Collection, passed to Science Museum, London in 2018. |
| Commodore 4032 |
Orbit and general satellite computing |
First micro-computer used by the Tracking Group, programmed in BASIC by Geoff |
Geoff Perry Collection, passed to Science Museum, London in 2018. |
| Other Computing Equipment |
Orbital analysis, predictions, observation analysis |
Further micro-computers were introduced as they became available with Geoff Perry favouring Commodore as a brand/type
There is no definitive list of what individual items were used or how their use evolved though Geoff is known to have written a number of analysis programs in BASIC |
Geoff Perry Collection, passed to Science Museum, London in 2018. |
