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Launch Vehicle - Black Arrow


By GeoffOCallaghan - Posted on 11 October 2009

General Information

The following are the start of some abstract notes on Black Arrow. Feel free to peruse.

  • End 1963 - Harold Robinson and colleagues publish draft project study which described how Black Knight could be developed into an economical system capable of placing 90Kg into LEO.
  • ........ - Saunders-Roc (a division of Westland Aircraft) in conjunction with Bristol Siddeley Engines contributed a detailed proposal of a 3 stage rocket. The 1st and 2nd stages would be enlarged versions of Black Knight powered by newer more powerful versions of the HTP-Kerosene Gamma Engine. The Upper Stage (3) would use a solid fuel motor to which the satellite would be attached.
  • ........ - 1st stage (height) 5.9M, 2M diam taper to 1.37M at 2nd stage, height 3.55m.
  • ........ - Total Height 13m, Launch Weigght 18.1 tons
  • ........ - first stage Gamma-8
  • ........ - second stage Gamma-2
  • ........ - third stage spin stabilized diam 0.71M diam, height 1.3M, 0.5ton weight - waxwing motor
  • Sep 1964 - Australia is informed of decision to go ahead with Black Arrow.
  • Jan 1965 - Seed funding provided by British Government to allow project to continue at a 'minimal' level.
  • Dec 1966 - Black Arrow officially given the 'go ahead' as part of Britains National Space Effort. Possibly driven by French Satellite placed into orbit on indigenous diamant rocket the previous month.
  • Jun 1967 - Cost of 3 development firings projected as $1,327,000 approved
  • May 1968 - New Impact Zones approved - Black Arrow was a polar launch vehicle and as such did not follow the normal range trajectory.
  • ........ - Black Arrow based on engineering design of Black Knight.

Motor Details

IgnitionMotorImpulseBurn Time
Stage 1T+0Gamma-8218KN(251 KN)125 s
Stage 2T+??Gamma-269KN120 s
Stage 3T+??Waxwing27KN40 s


Launch Log