black arrow officially british satellite carrier rocket developed 1960s launches final flight successful launch conducted united_kingdom placed satellite low earth orbit originated studies carrier rockets based rocket project authorised initially developed later result merger stage rocket high test concentrated form hydrogen retired launches favour american scout rockets calculated cheaper maintaining black arrow programme development originated proposal rocket capable placing pound low earth orbit order test systems designed larger spacecraft autumn programme authorised minister following general election october incoming labour government project hold reduce expenditure following election government approved continuation programme modifications including reduction test programme launches launch set technology systems developed flight proven rocket missile designed reuse technology earlier programmes possible order reduce costs development process senior staff programme transferred directly including chief missile scientist chief design engineer deputy chief engineer initial development conducted merged subsequently prime contractor black arrow assembled second stages produced second stage engines factory engines test fired factory shipped integrated rocket stage engines fired high produced stage somerset produced solid essex based responsible design integration stage came policy assigning designations consisting colour unofficially known research programmes conducted vehicle second stages black arrow burnt high test mixture ratio larger tank required compared contemporary launch systems tanks located fuel tanks following practice putting dense order lower centre gravity rocket easier control arrangement pioneered germany united_states soviet_union placed tanks fuel tanks making easier lower tank filled thrust provide attitude control stages stage chambers arranged pairs way axis pairs arranged perpendicular pairs provided roll pitch control second stage chambers axes providing level control coast phase second stage cut rocket controlled reaction control system stage attitude control system instead spin stage powered single gamma engine burned seconds gamma chamber engine derived gamma engine metres long diameter metres diameter french second stage rocket decision diameter taken order compatible stage allowed capacity increased allowed britain use stage backup reason dimensions original specification given imperial units stage diameter given metres second stages connected structure containing separation motors separated ignited seven seconds stage cut separated second stage seconds later second stage metres long measured metres diameter powered chamber gamma engine ignited shortly separation motors continued burn seconds minutes launch second stage burn separated seconds flight second stage cut rocket entered coast phase immediately cut second stage attitude control system coast correct orientation stage separation maintained means attitude control system end coast period stage spun rate rpm means imp rockets seconds later stage separated following seconds ignited stage solid rocket motor burned seconds minute stage burned released gas generators push spacecraft spent upper stage apart delay separation intended reduce risk upper stage thrust despite following spacecraft separation launch upper stage collided satellite damaging spacecraft communications antennae spacecraft able successfully complete mission launch ascent took seconds min spacecraft separation built derivatives black arrow proposed ways increasing capacity proposal added raven solid rocket motors programme stage rockets suggestion mount entire rocket atop missile proposal involved replacing gamma engines powerful launches black arrows launched launches demonstration flights battleship stages flight electrical fault caused pair stage chambers pivot forth cleared launch pad rocket rolling minute later began stage engine failed rocket began fall earth destroyed range safety second launch successful launch september launch black arrow britain attempt launch satellite launch failed leak second stage system caused cut early stage fired rocket reach orbit entered gulf fourth launch successfully satellite making united_kingdom sixth nation place satellite orbit means developed carrier rocket satellite known named character shakespeare chosen reference events play gives powers prior cancellation black arrow programme satellite named night dream launches conducted prohibited area australia previously test site rocket development programme launch sites barbados norfolk considered launch sites norfolk rejected remote risk rocket launched drop spent stages oil rig north_sea cancellation minister state trade industry announced cancellation project house_of_commons july rocket shipped launch site second stage having arrived days earlier permission given launched programme cancelled economic grounds decided cheaper use american scout rocket similar capacity future launches prior cancellation nasa offered launch british free offer withdrawn following decision cancel final black arrow completed fly preserved london flight spare satellite replica black arrow rocket stands addition remains stage black arrow recovered cattle station displayed launch facilities demolished year final flight half engineers worked programme laid satellite manifested launch eventually launched march american scout rocket flying air force base california united_kingdom country successfully developed abandoned satellite launch capability countries developed capability retained space programme case france involvement programme
Black Arrow