1957, October — The Mark I telescope becomes operational. It tracks the
carrier rocket of
Sputnik 1; the only telescope in the West able to do so.[9][10]
1960s
1960, May —
Lord Nuffield pays the remaining debt on the Mark I and the observatory is renamed the Nuffield Radio Astronomy Laboratories.[11]
1962 — As part of a radio-linked interferometer, the Mark I identifies a new class of compact radio sources, later recognised as
quasars.[12]
1968 — The Mark I confirms the existence of
pulsars.[16]
1968 — The Mark I took part in the first transatlantic
VLBI experiment in 1968, with other telescopes being those at
Algonquin and
Penticton in
Canada.[17]
1969 — The Mark I is used for the first time in a
VLBI observation, with the
Arecibo radio telescope in 1969.[12]
1970s
1970–1971 — The Mark I is repaired and upgraded; it is renamed to the Mark IA.[15]
1972–1973 — The Mark I carries out a survey of radio sources; amongst these sources was the first
gravitational lens, which was confirmed optically in 1979.[18]
1976, January — storms bring winds of around 90 mph which almost destroy the telescope. Bracing girders are added.[19]
1980s
1980 — The Mark IA is used as part of the new
MERLIN array.[12]
1982 — The 42 ft telescope is built, to replace the 50 ft.[citation needed]
1957, October — The Mark I telescope becomes operational. It tracks the
carrier rocket of
Sputnik 1; the only telescope in the West able to do so.[9][10]
1960s
1960, May —
Lord Nuffield pays the remaining debt on the Mark I and the observatory is renamed the Nuffield Radio Astronomy Laboratories.[11]
1962 — As part of a radio-linked interferometer, the Mark I identifies a new class of compact radio sources, later recognised as
quasars.[12]
1968 — The Mark I confirms the existence of
pulsars.[16]
1968 — The Mark I took part in the first transatlantic
VLBI experiment in 1968, with other telescopes being those at
Algonquin and
Penticton in
Canada.[17]
1969 — The Mark I is used for the first time in a
VLBI observation, with the
Arecibo radio telescope in 1969.[12]
1970s
1970–1971 — The Mark I is repaired and upgraded; it is renamed to the Mark IA.[15]
1972–1973 — The Mark I carries out a survey of radio sources; amongst these sources was the first
gravitational lens, which was confirmed optically in 1979.[18]
1976, January — storms bring winds of around 90 mph which almost destroy the telescope. Bracing girders are added.[19]
1980s
1980 — The Mark IA is used as part of the new
MERLIN array.[12]
1982 — The 42 ft telescope is built, to replace the 50 ft.[citation needed]