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Mulemba Astronomical Observatory, later known as the Mulemba Space Centre was founded in 1958 on Luanda's outskirts in Angola, then an African Portuguese colony, by the polymath Carlos Mar Bettencourt Faria. Being, from all accounts, a charming and knowledgeable individual who was mainly self taught, he managed to build several radio telescopes, a solar observing station, a state-of-the-art electronics laboratory and a satellite tracking facility. Financial support was obtained from a variety of individuals, commercial companies, public institutions and from 1971 onwards Angola's national government. Faria's ambitious plans were nevertheless always thwarted or delayed by lack of funds. In 1973 data started to be collected at the solar station but the whirlwind of 1970s politics had a decisive impact in Angola. Faria's beautiful dream effectively ended when he was assassinated at the Observatory in 1976. In this paper we recall Carlos Bettencourt Faria's life and his battle against all odds to establish a professional-level astronomical observatory in Angola. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Star Noise: Discovering the Radio Universe" is a comprehensive overview of the history of radio astronomy, covering 90 years of research. The book explores the early pioneers of radio astronomy, such as Karl Jansky and Grote Reber, and the rapid growth of the field after World War II. It discusses the serendipitous nature of many discoveries in radio astronomy and highlights the impact of radio astronomy on our understanding of the universe. The book also addresses sociological aspects of radio astronomy and future challenges in the field. Overall, it provides a valuable resource for those interested in the history and development of radio astronomy. [Extracted from the article]