On this day in 1971, the first British satellite was launched by a British rocket
53 years ago, on this day in 1971, Prospero was launched into the Earth’s Orbit from Woomera, Southern Australia.
Prospero was designed and built by the British Aircraft Corporation (BAC) at Filton, and became the first British satellite to be launched by a British rocket, ‘Black Arrow’.
Aerospace Bristol volunteer, Terry Ransome shares, “Prospero was a technology-development project - testing new types of solar cells to generate power, different surface finishes to control temperatures, and new electronics technology.”
The Black Arrow rocket, included a ‘Waxwing’ rocket motor, which was also a BAC product, made at the Banwell factory that also provided early Raven motors for the Skylark rocket.
The museum shop exhibits a full-size replica of Prospero with a real but unfuelled Waxwing motor beneath it.
Full-size Prospero replica with an original Waxwing beneath it, at Aerospace Bristol
Structure of satellite, Prospero