Orbital launch vehicle

Black Arrow

RetiredUnited Kingdom Royal Aircraft Establishment

Black Arrow was a British satellite carrier rocket. Developed during the 1960s, it was used for four launches between 1969 and 1971. Its final flight was the first and only successful orbital launch to be conducted by the United Kingdom, and placed the Prospero satellite into low Earth orbit.

Flights flown2

Success rate50%1/2

Payload to LEO135kg

Maiden flight1969-06-27

Peak year19701 flight

Black Arrow is built by Royal Aircraft Establishment of the United Kingdom. Company background, funding, contracts and news for this operator are tracked on Space Index. It first flew on 2 September 1970 and last flew on 28 October 1971.

Flight record

2 records

50% success rate1 of 2 flown · 1 failed

1970peak 1970 · 1 flight1971

First flight1970-09-02

Latest flight1971-10-28

Failures1

Consecutive successes1

Fastest turnaround421d 3h

Payload

Per mission profile

Low Earth orbit	135kg

Vehicle

Stages	3
Length	13m
Diameter	2m
Launch mass	18t
Liftoff thrust	256kN
Maiden flight	1969-06-27
Reusable	No

Pads used

1 pad

Launch Area 5B2

Orbits delivered

1 orbit

Low Earth Orbit2

Launch history

2 launches

Date	Mission	Pad	Orbit	Outcome
1971-10-28	Black Arrow \| Prospero	Launch Area 5B	Low Earth Orbit	Success
1970-09-02	Black Arrow \| X-2	Launch Area 5B	Low Earth Orbit	Failure

Specifications from Launch Library 2 by The Space Devs, launch records from Space Index. Derived figures are computed here; see sources and method.