Latest news with #Moonraker
Scottish Sun
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
I bought Ian Fleming's incredible UK beach home for under £1million – now I'm selling up because it's ‘too small'
Owner spotted it while swimming the Channel NEVER STAY NEVER I bought Ian Fleming's incredible UK beach home for under £1million – now I'm selling up because it's 'too small' Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A JAMES Bond superfan who snapped up Ian Fleming's former seaside home for less than £1million is putting it back on the market – because he says it's no longer big enough for his family. Mermaid Cottage, the striking 1920s Art Deco house in St Margaret's Bay, Kent, was once owned by both Bond creator Ian Fleming and legendary playwright Noel Coward. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 7 It's now up for sale with a guide price of £1.75million Credit: Getty 7 Its villain, Hugo Drax, constructs his deadly Moonraker rocket just outside Dover near Deal Credit: Strutt & Parker 7 It remained in private hands until 2008, when current owner Mark Sawyer spotted it during a visit to Kent with his then-partner Credit: Strutt & Parker It's now up for sale with a guide price of £1.75million. Fleming is believed to have written part of Moonraker at the property between 1951 and 1957, taking inspiration from the surrounding cliffs and coastline for the novel's dramatic setting. Its villain, Hugo Drax, constructs his deadly Moonraker rocket just outside Dover, near Deal. Coward had owned the house previously and renamed it 'White Cliffs' after restoring it following wartime damage by British and Canadian troops preparing for D-Day. He spent around £2,000 reinforcing the chalk cliffs and reportedly found his love of painting during his years there, according to Dover Museum. The house passed to Fleming in 1951, becoming his weekend and holiday escape. It remained in private hands until 2008, when current owner Mark Sawyer spotted it during a visit to Kent with his then-partner. The 56-year-old, who works in private equity, first glimpsed the village while swimming the Channel in a team relay: 'I distinctly remember the captain of the boat saying, 'There's St Margarets, it's a really pretty village'. I saw it from the water for the first time.' Although the house wasn't officially on the market, the couple fell in love with it and persuaded the estate agent to take it off the books immediately with a £20,000 deposit. They bought it for £800,000 and have since spent around £1million on renovations, including buying land to extend the garden. James Bond expert drops huge hint about new 007 actor after he starred in movie with huge A-list actress 'I'm a massive Bond fan. For me that was the cherry on the cake,' Sawyer said. 'Most people say when we're down there: squint and you could be in the Mediterranean,' he added. 'In the winter, the bay is so much quieter. "You sit there with the log-burning stove roaring with a storm blowing outside. 7 A JAMES Bond superfan who snapped up Ian Fleming's former seaside home for less than £1million Credit: Rex "You're immersed in nature. 7 After nearly two decades in Mermaid Cottage, Mark Sawyer is selling his Bond-worthy home "The only land you can see from our living room is France.' His partner Lara Jewitt, a Chelsea Flower Show gold medallist, helped design the garden, which echoes the style of Derek Jarman's Prospect Cottage. The couple bought land from the council in 2014 to create it, but soon ran out of space. 'We developed every square inch down there, and we just wanted a bit more room,' Sawyer said. 'I never thought I would sell it, to be honest with you. It has three bedrooms, and that is too small to have both of my children back, potentially in the future with their partners, and my family to stay.' Not everyone is pleased about the decision. 'My daughter is still not talking to me since I told her I am selling it,' he admitted. 'She'll get over it eventually.' Strutt & Parker, who are handling the sale, describe Mermaid Cottage as a 'breathtaking location' with a 'rich history of famous connections.' 7 They bought it for £800,000 and have since spent around £1million on renovations, including buying land to extend the garden Credit: Strutt & Parker
National Post
26-06-2025
- Science
- National Post
Pacific Defense Secures Launch for MOSA Space RF Payload
Article content EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Pacific Defense, the leading provider of Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) products, announced it has secured the inaugural launch for its Moonraker MOSA space Radio Frequency (RF) payload on board the K2 Space Gravitas Mission in February 2026. The mission includes a series of multi-orbit Space Situational Awareness (SSA) demonstrations showcasing the payload's mission flexibility. Article content We are taking the MOSA initiative to space with Moonraker. Article content Moonraker is a 3U Open VPX multi-function, RF payload with application software capable of performing a range of RF missions that fundamentally changes the cost, schedule, and deployment concept for responsive space missions. Designed for SSA, Moonraker payload architecture fully supports a range of receive and transmit Electromagnetic Spectrum Operation (EMSO) functions to command the electromagnetic operational environment. Article content 'We're thrilled to take the United States Department of Defense's MOSA initiative to new heights with Moonraker,' said Bryan Terlecky, Vice President of Space Systems at Pacific Defense. 'As global space competition intensifies, there is a pressing need for adaptable, software-driven solutions that can rapidly evolve to counter emerging threats. This mission marks a significant step in our commitment to providing innovative and flexible solutions for space control'. Article content The on-orbit demonstration, being completed under a contract with the Air Force Research Lab/Space Vehicles Directorate (AFRL/RV), is a critical milestone for Pacific Defense's Space MOSA payloads and will inform future operational systems. For more information, please visit Space Systems. Article content About Pacific Defense Article content Article content Article content Article content Contacts Article content Article content
Business Wire
26-06-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Pacific Defense Secures Launch for MOSA Space RF Payload
EL SEGUNDO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Pacific Defense, the leading provider of Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) products, announced it has secured the inaugural launch for its Moonraker MOSA space Radio Frequency (RF) payload on board the K2 Space Gravitas Mission in February 2026. The mission includes a series of multi-orbit Space Situational Awareness (SSA) demonstrations showcasing the payload's mission flexibility. We are taking the MOSA initiative to space with Moonraker. Share Moonraker is a 3U Open VPX multi-function, RF payload with application software capable of performing a range of RF missions that fundamentally changes the cost, schedule, and deployment concept for responsive space missions. Designed for SSA, Moonraker payload architecture fully supports a range of receive and transmit Electromagnetic Spectrum Operation (EMSO) functions to command the electromagnetic operational environment. 'We're thrilled to take the United States Department of Defense's MOSA initiative to new heights with Moonraker,' said Bryan Terlecky, Vice President of Space Systems at Pacific Defense. 'As global space competition intensifies, there is a pressing need for adaptable, software-driven solutions that can rapidly evolve to counter emerging threats. This mission marks a significant step in our commitment to providing innovative and flexible solutions for space control'. The on-orbit demonstration, being completed under a contract with the Air Force Research Lab/Space Vehicles Directorate (AFRL/RV), is a critical milestone for Pacific Defense's Space MOSA payloads and will inform future operational systems. For more information, please visit Space Systems. About Pacific Defense Pacific Defense is purpose-built to drive the open systems transformation necessary to unlock rapid innovation and the power of commercial technology. Specializing in C5ISR and Electronic Warfare (EW) solutions for mission-critical environments, Pacific Defense leverages Modular Open Systems Architecture (MOSA) standards to deliver innovative, adaptable technology that enables faster response to emerging threats and evolving mission requirements. Learn more at and on LinkedIn. Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. Public Affairs approval # AFRL-2025-1875.
Daily Record
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Controversial Daniel Craig Bond film ranked higher than Sean Connery favourite on TV tonight
The James Bond film, which sees Daniel Craig reprise his role as the fictional MI6 agent, will air on STV in Scotland and ITV in England this weekend - and it's ranked higher than a Sean Connery classic on Rotten Tomatoes This weekend, catch Daniel Craig 's second performance as the iconic MI6 agent, James Bond, in Quantum of Solace on television. Tune into STV 3 (ITV 1 in England) at 8pm on Saturday, June 21, to witness the thrilling follow-up to Casino Royale (2006), which is also the 22nd instalment in the esteemed James Bond series, originally released in 2008. Helmed by Marc Forster and penned by Paul Haggis, Neal Purvis, and Robert Wade, the film features an impressive cast including Dame Judi Dench, Mathieu Amalric, Giancarlo Giannini, Olga Kurylenko, and Jeffrey Wright taking on pivotal roles. The globe-trotting production of Quantum of Solace took place across six countries: the UK, Italy, Austria, Chile, Panama, and Mexico. David Arnold makes his fifth consecutive return as the composer, enhancing the film's espionage vibe. Making its grand debut at the Odeon Leicester Square in London on October 29, 2008, the premiere was graced by Royalty—with Princes William and Harry among the distinguished attendees—and ticket sales contributed to the noble causes of the Royal British Legion and Help for Heroes, reports the Express. With a whopping $589.6 million amassed globally, Quantum of Solace stood tall against its hefty $230 million production budget. Even though it surpassed Sean Connery's Diamonds Are Forever and Roger Moore's Moonraker on Rotten Tomatoes' ranking of Bond films, it holds a middling 63 per cent critics' approval rating on the site. A critic described it as "one of the most listless Bond films" they had ever watched. A reviewer sarcastically remarked: "I'm so turned off by this, I don't even have the energy to trash it. Why should I think of something clever to write? The authors clearly didn't see that as a mandate." In a similar vein, another critic added: "Let's hope this is a one-off aberration, because though it's all very efficient it lacks heart and soul and substance." In an episode of The Hollywood Reporter's Awards Chatter podcast in November 2024, Daniel Craig shared that his experience working on the film, which was his second appearance as Bond, was a "f-ng nightmare". This was largely due to the disruption caused by the 2007-2008 Writers Guild of America strike, which halted production mid-way. Craig explained: "Paul Haggis did a pass on the script. Then, he went off and joined the picket line and we didn't have writers. So, we didn't have a script. We should never probably have started production, but we did. I ended up writing a lot of that film, which I probably shouldn't say. I do not want the credit. It's fine." Reflecting on how the film was received, Craig observed: "There are some amazing stunt sequences in it. I'm still wearing the pins to prove it. In that sense, there's a lot of great stuff in it, but it just didn't quite work. The storytelling wasn't there. That's the abject lesson. Going to start a movie without a script is not a good idea." His second Bond outing fared terribly with viewers, scoring a paltry 58 per cent audience approval rating from over 250,000 ratings. Furthermore, this Bond film's reception with viewers was even more unfavourable as it recorded a meagre audience approval score of just 58 per cent with more than 250,000 ratings. One viewer expressed disappointment, commenting: "This film just feels like an extended post credit scene for Casino Royale. It is fun to watch but not enough story to make it interesting." Another viewer was less than impressed, labelling it as "Craig's worst movie as agent 007". Dissatisfaction with the film's direction by Marc Forster was evident when a viewer remarked: "This Bond film is truly groundbreaking for multiple reasons: the most poorly edited action sequences ever, the worst opening title song ever, and the absence of the James Bond action music until, get this, the credits roll at the end of the film! Beyond shocking after the brilliance of Casino Royale. Don't ever let this director anywhere near another Bond film." STV is set to air Quantum of Solace on Saturday, June 21, at 8pm.
Daily Mail
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
James Bond villains were based on REAL Nazis Ian Fleming encountered in WWII, German fan group claims
Ian Fleming's experiences in the Second World War are long known to have inspired his James Bond novels. The author's role in naval intelligence saw him help plan key operations and create an elite unit of commandos tasked with seizing enemy documents. But now, a group of German fans of the Bond franchise have argued that Fleming based Moonraker villain Hugo Drax on a real military industrialist he encountered in Nazi Germany. The group, whose name translates as the 'Bond Club', say that Fleming obtained top secret papers which he used to craft fictional versions of men he came across. In the Moonraker novel Drax poses as a British army veteran working on a rocket project for Britain, before he is unmasked as Graf Hugo von der Drache - a Nazi seeking revenge for his country's defeat. The villain is depicted as having worked for Rheinmetall-Borsig, a real Dusseldorf-based firm which manufactured artillery and ammunition for the German war effort. The Bond Club believes Fleming saw filed seized from Rheinmetall and other firms, such as Krupp. Tobias Schwesig, the club's chairman, said: 'In the films you have these characters - they look like normal Englishmen or industrialists, and then it turns out they're bad guys, Nazis, who want to destroy England or America.' Ian Fleming's role in naval intelligence saw him help plan key operations and create an elite unit of commandos tasked with seizing enemy documents 'He often had a real, probably a real person back in mind, I think.' On Drax, he added to The Times: 'The villains in Bond feel so real because Fleming knew exactly how Nazi companies operated. 'This is particularly clear in the character of Hugo Drax in Moonraker.' The Bond Club's members also believe that the town in which they are based, Wattenscheid in western Germany, was the fictional Bond's birthplace. Fleming himself was always vague on the subject. While working in his clandestine role, Fleming founded what was known as 30 Assault unit (30AU). In early 1945, as Allied forces were fighting their way through Germany, the group were ordered to seize enemy documents and gathering any more information that might prove useful. Fleming also worked in another unit, T-Force, which captured German scientific and technical know-how and brought it to the Allies. They also brought Nazi rocket scientists to Britain before they were captured by the advancing Russians. The special unit was lightly armed, highly mobile and, following the D-Day landings, tasked with seizing anything of military value. The Bond Club also claim that one of the key henchman in Moonraker - Dr Walter - was based on the real scientist Dr Hellmuth Walter, who ran the Walterwerke factory in Kiel, Northern Germany, which was secured by T-Force in 1945. It was responsible for the design of the engines used in V1 and V2 rockets. The link was previously highlighted by military historian Sean Longden, who revealed many other resemblances between Fleming's work and the plot of Moonraker. He also highlighted how, in the book, 50 German scientists – described as 'more or less all the guided-missile experts the Russians didn't get' – are working on the Moonraker project. T-Force had extracted Nazi rocket scientists from the Soviet zone and Dr Walter assisted in this. The 1979 film, starring Roger Moore as 007 and Michael Lonsdale as Drax, bears little resemblance to Fleming's book. The Walter character does not feature at all.
