Australia's first ever moon bounce remembered as a feat that shocked industry experts
Beautiful story of an enthusiastic radio amateur...
You probably haven't heard of Ray Naughton's feat of science — not many people have. But 55 years ago, the quiet electronics store owner from Birchip, in western Victoria, successfully completed Australia's first ever moon bounce.
You probably haven't heard of Ray Naughton's feat of science — not many people have. But 55 years ago, the quiet electronics store owner from Birchip, in western Victoria, successfully completed Australia's first ever moon bounce.
The amateur radio fanatic had spent most of his time alone in a paddock, tinkering away on a 250-metre wide, 30-metre tall antenna capable of bouncing a radio signal off the moon and back again.
Mr Naughton was driven by news that astronauts would soon be walking across its surface.