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Western Australia marks 50th Anniversary of Perth as the ‘City of Light’

On February 20 1962, John Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth in the Friendship 7 spacecraft. On this mission, Glenn flew over Perth and the people of Perth turned on their lights to acknowledge his mission. Glenn observed that the city was visible from space and Perth become known worldwide as the ‘City of Light’. This early space exploration mission set the stage for the Gemini and Apollo programs which culminated in NASA landing men on the moon.

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of Glenn’s orbit, on Monday 20 February 2012 an outdoor public event will be staged in the Northbridge Piazza, featuring a live audio and video link to the International Space Station as it orbits the Earth.

This free public event is being organised by the State Records Office of Western Australia, the WA Museum, the City of Perth, the Hills Amateur Radio Group, the Amateur Radio International Space Station and NASA.
State Archivist Cathrin Cassarchis said the highlight of the event will be an opportunity for young people to speak with and ask questions of the astronauts on the International Space Station.

Western Australian Museum Chief Executive, Alec Coles said people should come down to the Piazza on Monday 20 February from 5pm to see this unique public event; the first time school age children in Perth will have the opportunity to talk publicly with the International Space Station.
“The ‘City of Light’ anniversary event will also be supported with activities, displays and memorabilia highlighting Western Australia’s involvement in space exploration and the development of telecommunications in WA over the last 50 years,” said Mr Coles.

City of Perth Lord Mayor, Lisa Scaffidi said the City was pleased to be involved in hosting a free public event that engaged the community and recalled a very significant event in Perth’s history.

“Being able to communicate directly with the space station from the lawns of the Piazza shows how far technology has developed over the past 50 years,” Ms Scaffidi said.

“Perth attracted international attention in 1962 and since then we have developed into an international destination connected to the world.”

Events planned for the event include:

• a live radio contact between astronauts and cosmonauts on the International Space Station, with questions asked of them by school age children selected via a competition run by the Western Australian Museum;
• presentations by WA’s Chief Scientist, Lyn Beazley; and Alex Bevan, Head of Earth and Planetary Sciences from the WA Museum;
• working radio and optical telescopes and a display of the Square Kilometre Array Project from ICRAR
• display of historical records and artefacts covering the original event 50 years ago from the collections of the State Records Office and the City of Perth;
• Space themed films and mini-documentaries before and after the event on the screen in the Northbridge Piazza;
• build your own model of the Friendship 7 capsule and colouring activities for the kids
• 'Sidewalk Astronomy' evening (with telescopes and amateur astronomers) on top of the Roe Street Car Park from 8pm