A Technical Re-Appraisal Of Black Arrow
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M. Hempsell, A. Bond. (2021), JBIS, 74, pp.300-308
Refcode: 2021.74.300
Abstract:
Black Arrow was Britain’s only independent launch vehicle project. It was initiated in 1964 and on 2nd September 1970, it made its first attempt to reach orbit from the launch range at Woomera, Australia. This failed due to the second stage failing to complete its burn. On 28th October the following year it made a second attempt to reach orbit that would also be the last, as the project had been formally cancelled three months earlier. Fortunately, it was successful, putting the X-3 “Prospero” satellite into orbit, making Britain the sixth nation to independently launch a satellite [1]. It also made Britain the only nation to subsequently loose the capability, raising questions as to what the project’s intent really was.
