Black Knight - BK08

BK08 was the first two-stage vehicle to be fired. It was intended to obtain re-entry of the head at a higher speed. The Main stage performance was good but the second stage did not separate from the main stage and so was not ignited. The failure of explosive bolts or inertia switch circuitry was the probable cause. The trial, however, proved the aerodynamics of a new configuration, the control stability with the heavier vehicle, the stressing with greatly increased forward weight and the necessarily modified guidance arrangements.

Number Stages Date local
time Empty
wt [lbs] HTP
[lbs] Kerosene
[lbs} All up
wt [lbs] Burn-out
time [s] Apogee
miles

08 2 24 5 60 21.00 2 003 10 416 1 300 13 719 147.5 350