THE BIG QUESTIONS
It’s bound to be an astronaut, but I’d like to know – who took the longest journey ever? – I
Probably Cosmonaut Valery Polyakov, who holds the record for most consecutive days in space. He spent 438 days on board the Mir Space Station in 1994-95. As the station was travelling at 17,885mph, he likely covered a distance of 190 million miles.
Cosmonaut Gennady Padalka has spent most time in space, 878 days over five missions.
During the Cold War, is it true that we would only have received a three-minute warning of an imminent Soviet attack? – D
Actually, it was four minutes, though an extra 60 second wouldn’t have made much of a difference to your survival chances.
The four-minute warning was a public alert system created by the UK Government and was in use from 1953.
The warning would be issued through means of air raid sirens, and television and radio announcements, with the public being urged to immediately take cover.
The system was abandoned in 1992 though could be reintroduced.
Thanks to a pal at work, I’ve just discovered an Irish band, Horslips – but neither of us know where their name comes from. Please tell us. – D
The band were formed in the early ’70s and are regarded as one of the founding fathers of Celtic rock.
At a dinner in Dublin, they suggested calling themselves The Four Horsemen Of The Apocalypse. As the wine flowed, the name was eventually evolved and shrunk into The Horslips.