Black Knight - BK13

BK13 was a single stage vehicle with a double cone eroding head similar to BK.05 and BK.06 except for

* the substitution of a low-power telemetry beacon plus a tape recorder in place of the normal telemetry sender (BK05) or tape recorder (BK06),

* the use of a cine camera for filming the head wake during re-entry and,

* the deletion of the recovery parachute system.

As in BK07, further measurements were made in the motor bay to investigate base heating and pressures. A kerosene level sensor and H,T.P. level probes were used to provide information on mixture ratio during flight. Two upper atmosphere research experiments were carried - Ionic composition and Galactic radio noise. Propulsion was good and a re-entry velocity of 10,870 ft/sec was achieved at 200,000 ft. Motor bay temperatures and pressures were successfully recorded. The flaps over the base bleed holes opened before take-off and closed later as in BK07. The kerosene level sensor and H.T.P. probes worked and propellant usage in flight was determined. The head separation, turnover and spin systems were faultless, as were the pyrotechnic flashes on re-entry. Unfortunately, due to an incorrect setting of the switch, the tape recorder in the head started too soon and the tape had run out before re-entry; for the same reason the camera in the head did not record the re-entry wake. The durestos nose cone and materials specimens were recovered and erosion measurements were made. The electronic flashes were observed clearly but the tracking lamps were not seen.

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

13 1 7 2 61 22.16 1 555 9 939 1 319 12 813 139.0 427