25 May Radio Telescope 1980

We arrived early morning; sky was clear and bright. Tom went up to the control room to get started while Trish and I emptied the Van.

We had never been here before, so this was all new. We were excited. But we only had a few days. This was history in the making; the first time a radio telescope would be used with the Totem’s AESP.

Prepping the systems took the entire day, and we still weren’t done. So we decided to stop and have a bonfire.

We lasted only a few beers, and then Tom went inside. We were all exhausted. There was only one bed in the tower, so Trish and I slept in the Van.

It was extremely quiet outside. And the stars were brighter than I’ve ever seen. I pulled closed the curtains in the van but noticed the Totem coming over.

Trish was uneasy as it was; she didn’t like being out here. I gave the Totem a look and pointed back to the fire. It went back slowly. “Don’t worry,” I said, “tomorrow is your day, bud.”