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Operating under the direction of N.A.S.A. (the National Aeronautics and Space Administration), the University of Auckland is conducting research for the investigation of the ionosphere, using radio signals from artificial satellites.
Apart from stations run by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research at Auckland, Wellington, Invercargill, Rarotonga, Campbell Island and Scott Base, there are only two others in the country. One is in New Plymouth and the other here in Gisborne which is operated by Les Lewis at his home in Chalmers Road.
A Rustrak syncom recorder, operating continuously, sends out signals which bounce back from a stationary satellite.
Any clouds of electrons passing between the signalling station and the satellite are recorded on a graph and this is sent every four weeks to the University for collation with readings from other bases. The information gathered will provide data for use in N.A.S.A. headquarters.
Les Lewis with apparatus for measuring the electrons.

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The aerial which sends out and receives the signals to and from the geostationary satellite. Svncom 3.