Geoff Perry and the Kettering Group (Paperback)

Geoff Perry and the Kettering Group is the true story of a British physics teacher who, together with his pupils in the 1960s, revealed that the Soviet Union was launching satellites into space from a clandestine location. Perry turned his satellite-watching hobby into a student-focused group, supplemented by observers around the world, that revealed numerous secrets about the USSR’s space program. He became a widely recognized and trusted authority on all aspects of Soviet space activities in the midst of the Cold War. His impact on both his students and international relations was significant: Perry felt that his work not only promoted science literacy, but by exposing the truth, it also helped reduce mistrust between the two superpowers of the era.

Praise for Geoff Perry and the Kettering Group:

Des Welch has done a masterful job of capturing the unique talents and contributions of Geoff Perry and the Kettering Group that demystified Soviet space activities in the Cold War era. --Marcia Smith, editor, spacepolicyonline.com

Geoff Perry was the quintessential brilliant English eccentric and a pioneer of what is now called `open-source intelligence.' Welch takes us into the details of the detective work by which he and his army of schoolchildren transformed the Western public's understanding of the secretive Soviet space effort. --Jonathan McDowell, author, Jonathan's Space Report

We value the pioneers in any field, but especially so in the sciences. Des Welch has researched widely to compile a detailed biography of this space pioneer and educator. It is long overdue. --Stuart Eves, former member of the Kettering Group.