Portal:Spaceflight/Selected article/Week 8 2007

Black Arrow was a British satellite carrier rocket, based on the Black Knight and Blue Streak rockets. 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. Black Arrow was the brainchild of British engineer John Scott-Scott. It was developed by the Royal Aircraft Establishment and built by Saunders-Roe on the Isle of Wight. Its engines were tested at The Needles before being launched at Woomera in Australia. The rocket used hydrogen peroxide oxidizer with RP-1 fuel.

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. (more...)