Black Arrow

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Black Arrow

A Black Arrow rocket launches the Prospero X-3 satellite. The relatively pale exhaust results from the use of hydrogen peroxide as the oxidiser.
Fact sheet
Function	Orbital satellite carrier rocket
Manufacturer	Saunders-Roe Designed by Saunders Roe in conjunction with Royal Aircraft Establishment
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Size
Height	13 m
Diameter	2.00 m
Mass	18,130 kg
Stages	3
	Capacity
Payload to LEO	73 kg
Launch History
Status	Retired
Launch Sites	LA-5B, Woomera
Total launches	4
Successes	2
Failures	2
Maiden flight	22:58 GMT, 27 June 1969
Last flight	04:09 GMT, 28 October 1971
First satellite orbited	04:09 GMT, 28 October 1971 Prospero X-3
First Stage - Blue Streak (modified)
Engines	8 Gamma
Thrust	23,945 kgf
Specific Impulse	265 sec
Burn time	142 seconds
Fuel	H2O2/Kerosene
Second Stage
Engines	2 Gamma
Thrust	6,958 kgf
Specific Impulse	265 sec
Burn time	113 seconds
Fuel	H2O2/Kerosene
Third Stage
Engines	1 Solid
Thrust	3,000 kgf
Specific Impulse	278 sec
Burn time	28 seconds
Fuel	Solid

Black Arrow was a British satellite carrier rocket.

Its design was based on the earlier Black Knight.

Although many designs had been put forward for a satellite carrier rocket based on Black Knight, considerations of cost meant that existing technology had to be used as far as possible. Several more capable deigns were not pursued on the grounds of development cost.

The first stage was powered by an 8 chambered Gamma 8 motor, thus efectively doubling the number of chambers in Black Knight's gamma 301 motor. In a design where all other dimensions were given in Imperial units, the first stage diameter is 2.0m. This was the same as the diameter of the French second stage design for the Europa satellite launch vehicle. In the event of the failure of the French design, then Black Arrow could readily be substituted in its place.

The second stage was powered by a 2 chambered Gamma 2 motor. This used a similar chamber to the first stage, but with extended exhaust nozzles for better performance at high altitudes. Saunders Roe had already begun some preliminary work on an enlarged Black Knight of 54 inch diameter, and again to save development costs, this diameter was chosen for the second stage.

The third stage was a solid fuel motor named Waxwing.^[1]

It was the first, and as of January 2007 only British rocket capable of placing a satellite into orbit. It was responsible for Britain's first indigenous satellite launch, Prospero X-3, on 28 October 1971, and was retired immediately after the launch. Its engines were tested at The Needles^[2] before being launched at Woomera in Australia.

The rocket used hydrogen peroxide oxidizer with kerosene fuel.

Contents 1 Launches 2 Cancellation 3 Legacy 4 See also 5 External links 6 References

[edit] Launches

• R0 was launched on 28 June 1969 and was destroyed by ground control after an electrical fault led to a loss of guidance control

• R1 was launched on 4 March 1970 and was successful, although it carried no third stage payload

• R2 was launched on 2 September 1970. The first stage was successful but a leak in the HTP pressurisation system meant the rocket did not have enough velocity to reach orbit, and crashed into the Gulf of Carpentaria with the loss of the X-2 experimental satellite

• R3 was launched on 28 October 1971. The launch was completely successful and placed into orbit the Prospero X-3 satellite, making the United Kingdom the sixth nation to place a satellite into orbit (See Timeline of first orbital launches by nationality).

[edit] Cancellation

The cancellation of the Black Arrow project was announced in the House of Commons on 29 July 1971 by the then Minister for Aerospace, Frederick Corfield, although permission was given for the final launch of R3 to take place after this date. The last vehicle, R4, was never launched, and may be seen on display at the Science Museum, London.

The decision was taken on grounds of cost effectiveness; it was decided that using NASA's solid fuel Scout rocket for future launches would offer adequate performance at a lower cost.

[edit] Legacy

The cancellation of Black Arrow marked the end of the UK's chances of becoming a major space power. The UK had been at the forefront of rocketry since World War II but swiftly fell behind during the 60s and 70s. All future British satellite launches had to rely on foreign rockets.

As of 2006, the UK is the only nation to have successfully developed and then abandoned a satellite launch capability.^[3] Although the UK is now a member of the European Space Agency.

[edit] See also

• List of missiles
• UK topics
• Rainbow Codes

[edit] External links

• Science Museum - Black Arrow
• http://www.spaceuk.org/ba/ba.htm
• http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/blaarrow.htm

[edit] References

1. ^ Hill, C.N. (2001). A Vertical Empire (in English). Imperial College Press, 253. ISBN 1860942679. 
2. ^ Rocket Testing at The Needles
3. ^ Millard, Douglas (2001). Black Arrow Rocket: A History of a Satellite Launch Vehicle and Its Engines (in English). Science Museum, 64. ISBN 1900747413. 

British Cold War Defence Projects Air-to-air missiles Blue Sky | Blue Jay | Red Dean | Red Hebe | Blue Jay Mk 4 "Red Top" | Blue Vesta Air-to-surface missiles Green Cheese | Blue Steel Surface-to-air missiles and satellite launch vehicles Red Duster | Red Shoes | Blue Streak | Black Arrow | Black Knight Surface-to-surface missile Orange William | Blue Rapier/Red Rapier cruise missiles Nuclear warheads Red Snow | Yellow Sun | Violet Club | Red Beard | Blue Danube | Blue Peacock Artillery Green Mace