1971-093A
The final Black Arrow launch from Woomera Site 5B, R-3, left the pad on 1971 Oct 28 carrying the X-3 technology satellite. X-3 was built and operated by the UK Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough in Hampshire. X-3 and the Waxwing final stage motor reached polar orbit successfully. The 66 kg, 1.1m dia 0.71m high satellite was named Prospero. Prospero was still working in 1989 when the ground station at Lasham was closed down.
R-3 ussed Gamma 8 No 7 and Gamma 2 No 6.
Waxwing was 315 kg of prop at 156 kN. Dry mass was 35 kg; a 14 kg separation adapter was also orbited attached to Waxwing. One of Prospero's 0.5m aerials is believed to have been broken off shortly after separation.
| Prospero | |||
| Date | Time | Event | Orbit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 Oct 28 | 0409:29 | Launch by Black Arrow (R-3) | Woomera Site 5B |
| 0411 | T+2:06 Stage 1 MECO | ||
| T+2:13 St 1 sep 49 km | -6291 x 92 | ||
| 0411 | T+2:13 Stage 2 burn | ||
| T+2:19 Interstage sep | |||
| 0412 | T+3:00 Fairing sep 93 km | -6166 x 147 | |
| 0413 | T+4:16 Stage 2 MECO | ||
| T+4:40 At 218 km, 23.48deg, 4.947 km/s | |||
| T+9:37 Stage 2 sep | -5036 x 552 x 80.38 | ||
| 0417 | T+9:50 Stage 3 apogee burn 55s | ||
| 0418 | T+10:45 Stage 3 cutoff | ||
| 0420 | T+11:50 Stage 3 sep | ||
| 0420 | Prospero collides with stage 3 | ||
| 106.5 547 x 1582 x 82.1 | |||
| 1989 | Still operating | ||
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