Skua (rocket)

Skua is the designation of a British sounding rocket which was launched between 1959 and 1981 in four versions over 300 times. The Skua was developed by Bristol Aerojet and RPE Wescott.

It consisted of a starting stage made up of several Chick rockets (like the Petrel) that burned for 0.2 seconds. They propelled the rocket 20 metres over the 5-metre-long launch tube. After that, the Bantam main stage ignited. The solid rocket motor of the main stage had an end-burning propellant grain and burned for 30 seconds. The starting stage descended on parachutes and was re-filled and re-used.

The fastest jet stream velocity ever measured (656 km/h or 408 mph) was recorded by instruments on board a Skua rocket above South Uist, Outer Hebrides, Scotland at an altitude of 47,000 m (154,200 ft), on 13 December 1967.

Versions
There were four versions of the Skua rocket: