#SpaceHistory #UKSpaceProgram #BlackArrowRocket
Hey, did you know that the UK is the only country to have successfully developed and then abandoned the capability to launch satellites into space? ๐ It’s true! The Black Arrow rocket launched the Prospero satellite into orbit from Australia in Oct 1971, marking a significant achievement for the UK space program. However, the project was unfortunately cancelled that same year due to cost, leaving the UK without a means to launch satellites into space. ๐ฐ๏ธ
The Black Arrow rocket was a remarkable feat of engineering, developed by the British government’s Ministry of Technology and built by Westland Aircraft. It was a small, low-cost satellite launch vehicle designed to put payloads of up to 150 pounds into low Earth orbit. The rocket utilized hydrogen peroxide and kerosene as propellants, and it was capable of reaching speeds of over 5,000 miles per hour.
The launch of the Prospero satellite was a major milestone for the UK, as it demonstrated the country’s ability to independently access space. The Prospero satellite itself was a technological marvel, designed to conduct experiments in space and test new communication technologies. It operated successfully in orbit for over a year, transmitting data back to Earth and paving the way for future satellite missions.
Unfortunately, despite the success of the Black Arrow rocket and the Prospero satellite, the program was ultimately deemed too expensive to continue. The UK government made the difficult decision to cancel the program in 1971, effectively ending the country’s ability to launch satellites into space. This decision was met with disappointment from the scientific and engineering communities, as it left the UK without a space launch capability of its own.
In the years following the cancellation of the Black Arrow program, the UK relied on international partners to launch its satellites into space. This dependence on other countries for launch services was a major setback for the UK space program, limiting the country’s ability to pursue independent space missions and conduct scientific research.
Despite the challenges faced by the UK space program, there have been recent efforts to revitalize the country’s space launch capabilities. In 2017, the UK Space Agency announced plans to develop a new spaceport in Scotland, with the goal of launching satellites and small spacecraft into orbit. The construction of the spaceport is currently underway, and it is expected to become operational in the near future.
The development of a new spaceport in the UK is an exciting prospect for the country’s space industry, as it will provide a means to access space without relying on international partners. This will open up new opportunities for scientific research, commercial space activities, and the exploration of new frontiers beyond Earth’s atmosphere.
In addition to the construction of a new spaceport, the UK has also been investing in the development of innovative satellite technologies. The UK Space Agency has been supporting commercial satellite companies and startups, providing funding for the development of new spacecraft and technologies. This investment in satellite innovation is expected to further enhance the UK’s space capabilities and support the growth of the country’s space industry.
Overall, while the UK may have been the only country to successfully develop and then abandon the capability to launch satellites into space, there are promising developments on the horizon. With the construction of a new spaceport and ongoing investments in satellite technologies, the UK is well-positioned to regain its space launch capabilities and become a significant player in the global space industry.
So, there you have it! The fascinating history of the UK’s space program and its journey to regain independent space launch capabilities. With the construction of a new spaceport and ongoing investments in satellite technologies, the future looks bright for the UK space industry. ๐ Let’s keep our eyes on the stars and see where this exciting journey takes us! ๐
When the programme was dropped, they didn’t just decide they’d had enough – the UK put its full weight behind the creation of the European Space Agency some four years later.
looks like my dog when he gets excited
The project was actually cancelled before the launch of Prospero, they basically decided that since everything was ready they might as well launch it anyway.
This is in part down to the machinations of the US; they offered the UK discounts to do stuff with NASA instead. Because it was all so expensive the UK thought about it and decided that it made more sense to do it that way. So they abandoned the space program (which in part they had only needed to develop launch capabilities for the nukes they had to develop due to the US shafting them on Tube Alloys).
After the program was cancelled the US then just played dumb about any potential discounts and insisted it had either been a misunderstanding or that the deal had been with a previous government and the time was now expired on it.
We can do it again whenever we want to.
‘sucessfully’
It’s a good thing it was cancelled. It’s not like there would ever be a market for cheap kerosene powered launch vehicles to send commercial satellites into orbit.
The next best thing to owning a satellite, is having a friend who owns a satellite.
“Then neoliberalism happened”
There has always been a theory that the main reason that the U.K. dropped all their high tech development, gutting their programmes, from Jets, Rockets, Satellites and communications, was due to the fact the state was absolutely riddled with Soviet Agents.
From the 30โs up until the 80โs there was so much KGB Russian infiltration that every time a programme was just about to come to fruition it was suddenly cancelled.
I bet my hat that when the official secrets act documents are unsealed in about another 50 years the full scale of Soviet espionage and infiltration to the top of the British government will be discovered.
Fun fact, the calculations to work out the costs were massively overestimated, which lead to the cancellation.
The UK are bot known for making good decisions.
Cancelled due to cost despite being cheap as shit for a space program
A large part of why it was cancelled was because the governments main reason for funding it was to create missiles to deliver nukes in the cold war.
Carrying a satellite payload instead of a warhead was just a bonus.
The British came up with the idea of underground silos as a deterrent, however the missiles we developed couldn’t be left fuelled, meaning it would take at least 40 minutes.
With the size of the UK being quite small this was considered a problem.
So when the US agreed to sell us submarine based missiles, the UK gave up having land based deterrent and the cost calculations changed massively.
They did the same thing with warwolf
Yeah right… lol
Black Arrow actually was a thinly veiled ICBM.
Also the only nation to invent nuclear weapons twice.
I don’t believe that at all, but it’s a nice cover story; “cost”. You know what it really was?
Emus. Emus tore through that launch base like starving piranhas, sparing no man.
When your empire shrinks, you have less money to defend but also less need.
Update: [They’re baaack!](https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/aug/27/well-launch-rockets-every-month-britain-finally-joins-the-space-race-skyrora-cumbernauld)
“The project was cancelled due to costs”
Yup, sounds like the UK.