Black Arrow was a British satellite carrier rocket, based on the Black Knight. Black Arrow was the brainchild of British engineer John Scott-Scott, and was developed by the Royal Aircraft Establishment. The rocket used hydrogen peroxide oxidiser with RP-1 (paraffin oil) fuel.
* R0 was launched on 28 June 1969 and was destroyed by ground control after an electrical fault led to a loss of guidance control
* R1 was launched on 4 March 1970 and was successful, although it carried no third stage payload
* R2 was launched on 2 September 1970. The first stage was successful but a leak in the HTP pressurisation system meant the rocket did not have enough velocity to reach orbit, and crashed into the Gulf of Carpentaria with the loss of the X-2 experimental satellite
* R3 was launched on 28 October 1971. The launch was completely successful and placed into orbit the Prospero X-3 satellite, making the United Kingdom the sixth nation to place a satellite into orbit.
The cancellation of the Black Arrow project was announced in the House of Commons on 29 July 1971 by the then Minister for Aerospace, Frederick Corfield, although permission was given for the final launch of R3 to take place after this date. The last vehicle, R4, was never launched, and may be seen on display at the Science Museum, London.
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Author(s): Sparkle Junot (2007 October 26)
