Black Arrow Programme

The United Kingdom's Black Arrow research and development programme grew from Royal Aircraft Establishment work at Farnborough, with industry developing launch vehicles and associated facilities in Britain and at Woomera, Australia. It tested whether existing British technologies could support satellite launch capability. Four rockets were developed between 1969 and 1971, culminating in Black Arrow R3 placing the British-built Prospero satellite into orbit in 1971. The programme encompasses that development effort and infrastructure as well as the launcher itself.