"It's tricky and I must confess we've all been a bit nervous, " Manfred Zink, from the German space agency (DLR), told BBC News.

BBC: German radar satellites fly tight space waltz

But, having prepared myself mentally, and having done a conscientious amount of research on Welsh maritime history over the last few weeks, I must confess to a twinge of disappointment that it's unlikely that I'm actually going to get the chance to experience a journey in a historic ship.

BBC: No sailing in sight for slate