Satellite control dish and cradle as it appeared in GoldenEye (1995).
The Janus Satellite Control Centre is a fictional clandestine satellite control and tracking centre; located in Cuba and operated by the Janus Crime Syndicate. The location made its first appearance in the 1995 James Bond film GoldenEye and was later featured in the GoldenEye 007 video game series starting with Rare's iconic 1997 game.
History[]
GoldenEye (film)[]
Based on its Soviet counterpart in Severnaya, the station was equipped with a large communications dish. An antenna cradle was suspended circa 150 m (492 ft) above the dish by cables running from three retractable towers. To evade detection by spy satellites or conventional aerial photography, the dish (along with its antenna, towers and cabling) was recessed into the ground and flooded while not in use; resembling a natural lake amidst the surrounding jungle. Located directly underneath the dish, the subterranean mission control station was equipped with television screens, consoles, and high-speed computers that allowed Janus technicians to trace and control the orbital paths of the GoldenEye satellites. The site was protected by ground-to-air missile launchers concealed below the surface of the lake, as well as a network of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras watching the dish perimeter.
Alternate Continuities[]
GoldenEye 007 (1997 game)[]
Operating theatre.
The Janus Control Centre (as it's named in the game) is the sixteenth level in Goldeneye 007 and takes place in the vicinity of the Havana. From here the Janus Crime Syndicate plans to hold the world on ransom.
Behind the Scenes[]
Derek Meddings' Janus Control Centre miniature.
The external scenes of the satellite dish were shot at the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico.[1] To achieve the effect of the dish basin draining sequences, as well as the facility's eventual destruction, scale miniatures of the Arecibo Observatory were constructed by Derek Meddings' model unit at Leavesden studios in England.[2] Notably, Meddings, along with production designer Peter Lamont, are referenced on the control centre's main screen; with the 'Meddings International Bank' and 'Lamont and Sons Financial Trust' named after the pair.
Gallery[]
_1.png "Janus Satellite Control Center (GoldenEye) 1.png (1.24 MB)")
See also[]
References[]
- ↑ Michael G. Wilson, Andrew Ackland-Snow, Peter Lamont, Chris Corbould. Location Scouting with Peter Lamont: GoldenEye [TV Documentary]. Cloverland Productions. Retrieved on 17 October 2007.
- ↑ Multiple authors. (1996). James Bond 007: The Ultimate Dossier (CD-ROM). Eidos Interactive. ISBN 0-7928-3274-4.
