Telespazio VEGA UK, a subsidiary of Telespazio (Finmeccanica/Thales) is contributing a complimentary Explorer 700 and IsatPhone Pro sat phone and Inmarsat, airtime, ensuring safe, fast and reliable communications to the ex-marine Nick Hancock whilst living in the most remote of environments.Nick will be using the equipment to keep in touch with his land base, loved ones, update his twitter followers (@RockallNick #rockallSolo) and appear live on TV and radio throughout the exhibition.
Rockall Solo is a unique endurance expedition to be undertaken in order to raise funds for Help for Heroes. Since the first recorded landing in 1811, only four people have spent more than one night on Rockall.
The challenge for Nick is to land on Rockall and survive solo for 60 days, setting two new endurance records: “THE LONGEST SOLO OCCUPATION OF ROCKALL” and “THE LONGEST OCCUPATION OF ROCKALL IN HISTORY”.
Telespazio VEGA UK, an Inmarsat Distribution Partner, provide secure and reliable communications on land, sea and in the air to a diverse range of clients throughout the world.
The Thrane & Thrane EXPLORER 700 being provided by Telespazio VEGA UK provides access to the highest bandwidth available on the BGAN network with multiple voice and data interfaces, including WLAN connectivity it provides Internet, Email, Telephony, Streaming, File transfer, Store and forward services.
The IsatPhone Pro is a low-cost, handheld satellite phone that enables you make calls around the globe providing exceptional voice clarity, SMS text messaging and email - over Inmarsats I4 satellites, the world's most reliable satellite communications network.
Nick aims to undertake research during his stay on Rockall, in order to continue the geographical, geological, ornithological, entomological, and botanical work that has been carried out to date, particularly that of James Fisher in 1955. He will carry out a study of bird, insect and plant life, collecting new rock samples and completing a GNSS survey. Nick hopes to provide as full a picture of the micro-environment of Rockall as possible and update the pre-existing data.
Rockall is a very small island lying approximately 300 km (186 miles) west of St Kilda. St Kilda is 66 km (41 miles) west of Benbecula in the Outer Hebrides, and 430km (267 miles) from the nearest point on the Irish mainland. The outcrop measures circa 25m (82ft) on its north-south axis and 22m (72ft) on its east-west axis; the summit is circa 18 m (59ft) above sea level, having been officially 19.2m (63ft) ASL prior to the summit being removed in 1971.
HELP FOR HEROES (H4H) was founded by Bryn and Emma Parry after a visit to Selly Oak Hospital in the summer of 2007. Bryn and Emma met some extraordinarily brave young men who had been badly wounded and they just wanted to do something to help. The charity was launched in October 2007 and, with the backing and support of celebrities, The Royal Family, The Media and countless ordinary decent people, it has raised over £1m a month since then.
Telespazio VEGA UK is a dynamic and experienced consulting, technology and engineering services business based in Luton, UK. We have developed and harnessed our knowledge and expertise to deliver unique complex solutions for: • Satellite Systems and Applications: We offer robust and reliable ground segment systems for satellite missions and utilise space assets to develop downstream applications across a wide variety of sectors. We provide world leading scientific services on earth observation and space science missions. Our valued and experienced knowledgeable experts deliver consulting and engineering support to space missions worldwide. • Geo Information: We deliver high quality earth observation data to the most reputable organisations in the European Space Industry. Our user-friendly value adding platforms make accessible essential information that enables the monitoring and management of the effects of human and environmental activity on our planet. • Network and Connectivity: Our highly skilled satellite solutions team provides bespoke packages that supply and support fixed as well as mobile telecommunication services, delivering a strong interoperability at the user interface.
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For more information, please contact Rebecca.Halls@vegaspace.com or visit www.telespazio-vega.com