Black Arrow

BH Black Arrow Black Arrow R3

Mission Profile

Black Arrow was a three-stage British orbital launch vehicle developed by Westland Aircraft for the Royal Aircraft Establishment, representing the United Kingdom's sole indigenous attempt to achieve independent orbital launch capability. Standing 13 meters tall and weighing 18,130 kg at liftoff, it generated 255 kN of thrust and could place up to 73 kg into low Earth orbit. First flown in June 1969, Black Arrow achieved its only successful orbital mission in October 1971 when it placed the Prospero satellite into orbit — making the UK the sixth nation to independently launch a satellite. The program was cancelled just weeks before that successful flight, a decision that meant the UK ceded its own launch capability and became the only country to have achieved independent orbital access and then abandoned it.