X3 British satellite 'Prospero'

Prospero was the first British satellite to be successfully launched from a British rocket, Black Arrow, taking off from Woomera, Australia in October 1971. Also known as X3, it was used to test equipment for future satellites and to measure the frequency of micrometeroids. Prospero is still in orbit around Earth and will not deorbit until the 2070s, 100 years after its launch.

The Black Arrow programme launched four times, twice succesfully including Prospero in 1971, making the UK the sixth nation to launch its own spacecraft. The Black Arrow programme had been initiated to test new satellite technologies in space itself rather than in the laboratory. This would support UK industry in bidding for satellite contracts to be launched by the intended Europa rocket of the European Launcher Development Organisation. The Black Arrow programme never received the level of funding required to ensure swift development. By the time it was launching successfully UK government priorities had shifted in favour of purchasing launches on other nations' rockets and the programme was cancelled in July 1971. The UK became the only country to have developed and then abandoned a successful satellite-launching rocket.

Prospero was the first British satellite to be successfully launched from a British rocket, Black Arrow, taking off from Woomera, Australia in October 1971. Also known as X3, it was used to test equipment for future satellites and to measure the frequency of micrometeroids. Prospero is still in orbit around Earth and will not deorbit until the 2070s, 100 years after its launch.

The Black Arrow programme launched four times, twice succesfully including Prospero in 1971, making the UK the sixth nation to launch its own spacecraft. The Black Arrow programme had been initiated to test new satellite technologies in space itself rather than in the laboratory. This would support UK industry in bidding for satellite contracts to be launched by the intended Europa rocket of the European Launcher Development Organisation. The Black Arrow programme never received the level of funding required to ensure swift development. By the time it was launching successfully UK government priorities had shifted in favour of purchasing launches on other nations' rockets and the programme was cancelled in July 1971. The UK became the only country to have developed and then abandoned a successful satellite-launching rocket.