When Earth got another moon - 04 Oct 07

The Soviet Union launched the world's first satellite exactly 50 years ago, usherin in a new era - a global space race. The Sputnik 1 pitted Cold War enemies in a head-to-head battle to be ahead of the game.

Caught up in that mission which heralded the space age was a radio telescope in the north of England,the only instrument to successfully track the satellite and its carrier rocket.

Now 94, the man who founded and operated the telescope, spoke to Al Jazeera about his role in the historic event.