Britain’s first satellite, Ariel 1, rode on top of a US rocket.
The combination of kerosene and hydrogen peroxide makes an amazing rocket fuel.
The hydrogen peroxide molecule has two atoms of hydrogen and two atoms of oxygen.
The result is a clean, smokeless exhaust.
A comically simple launchpad at Woomera.
Gamma engines had an impeccable service record rarely seen in rocket engine.
It also carried a micrometeoroid detector, to measure the presence of very small particles.
By 1969, the program had already begun to feel the pinch of budget cuts.
The first mission would consist of two live stages and a dummy payload.
The next launch would orbit a simple developmental satellite.
The third launch would carry a fully working satellite into orbit.
Black Arrows exhaust nozzles, at Londons Science Museum.
Photo credit: Royal Aircraft Establishment
All Black Arrow launcheswere madefrom Woomera, in South Australia.
The location was picked because of the low population density of the region.
The failure was a major setback for the already tight Black Arrow launch schedule.
The launch was pushed back to October 1971.
Some of stages were ready by mid-1971, and was shipped to Australia for the launch.
Prospero, the satellite.
Prospero became Britains first and only satellite to be launched by an indigenously built vehicle.
It is nowon displayat Penicuik, Scotland.
Photo credit:John Hayman/Wikimedia Commons
