The Performance of Black Arrow in the Launch of the Prospero Satellite
Abstract
The first (and last) operational mission of the Black Arrow satellite launching vehicle is described, and the performance of the vehicle is analyzed. The technological satellite Prospero was successfully launched on Oct. 28, 1971, into an orbit of apogee radius 7,969 km, perigee radius 6,928 km, and inclination 82.1 deg, which values were close to the nominal values. On the individual stages the velocity increments, compared to nominal values, were +0.7%, -0.8%, and +0.5%, for the first, second, and third stages. The mean pointing error of the spinning third stage did not exceed 0.25 deg. It is believed that 20 s after satellite separation (or 100 s after nominal cessation of third-stage thrust) the third stage collided with the satellite, resulting in the fracture of one telemetry aerial. However, the satellite subsequently functioned successfully.
- Publication:
-
Journal of the British Interplanetary Society
- Pub Date:
- April 1975
- Bibcode:
- 1975JBIS...28..263P
- Keywords:
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- Black Knight Rocket Vehicle;
- Propulsion System Performance;
- Spacecraft Launching;
- Missile Trajectories;
- Multistage Rocket Vehicles;
- Rocket Flight;
- Satellite Orbits;
- Sequencing;
- Stage Separation;
- Launch Vehicles and Space Vehicles