In the years since Black Arrow, which played a pioneering role during the late 1960s and early 1970s by ‘placing’ the
first British-designed and built satellite into Earth orbit, the UK has become one of the world’s leading satellite manufacturers, providing technology that helps the world communicate, keeps people safe and monitors the environment.

The Government now wants to establish a new UK launch capability on a commercial footing, with a number of potential spaceports across the country and new launch operators that can put small satellites into orbit from UK soil.

Emma Floyd, director of commercial spaceflight at the UK Space Agency, said: “Our aim is to establish commercial
vertical and horizontal satellite launch from UK spaceports, providing a world-leading capability, bringing new markets to the UK and inspiring the next generation of British space scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs.

"Black Arrow is an important part of the UK’s space heritage, and it is great to recognise the achievements of the past, as we look to the future.”

The UK Space Agency (www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-space-agency) is partnering with Farnborough Air Sciences Trust (FAST) and British rocket launch provider Skyrora to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Black Arrow launch and the current success of the UK space sector.

Skyrora brought the first stage of Black Arrow R3 back to the UK from Australia two years ago and has lent it to the FAST Museum, where it will be on display for the next three years.

The Black Arrow programme grew from earlier UK space R&D programmes undertaken by the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough, which included designing and building (in conjunction with industry) a series of launch vehicles and their rocket engines, plus the associated infrastructure; this included assembly and test facilities in the UK and a launch complex at Woomera (Australia).

Four rockets were developed between 1969 and 1971. Black Arrow was a 13m-tall three-stage rocket with an eight-chamber engine in its first stage; the third stage was a solid-rocket motor manufactured by RPE Westcott.