Black Knight ballistic test vehicle

Made:
circa 1960 in unknown
maker:
Unknown
Black Knight ballistic test vehicle, wind tunnel model, ca. 1960 Black Knight ballistic test vehicle, wind tunnel model, ca. 1960 Black Knight ballistic test vehicle, wind tunnel model, ca. 1960 Black Knight ballistic test vehicle, wind tunnel model, ca. 1960 Black Knight ballistic test vehicle, wind tunnel model, ca. 1960 Black Knight ballistic test vehicle, wind tunnel model, ca. 1960 Black Knight ballistic test vehicle, wind tunnel model, ca. 1960 Black Knight ballistic test vehicle

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License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

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Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Black Knight ballistic test vehicle, wind tunnel model, ca. 1960
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Black Knight ballistic test vehicle, wind tunnel model, ca. 1960
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Black Knight ballistic test vehicle, wind tunnel model, ca. 1960
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Black Knight ballistic test vehicle, wind tunnel model, ca. 1960
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Black Knight ballistic test vehicle, wind tunnel model, ca. 1960
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Black Knight ballistic test vehicle, wind tunnel model, ca. 1960
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Black Knight ballistic test vehicle, wind tunnel model, ca. 1960
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Black Knight ballistic test vehicle, wind tunnel model, ca. 1960

The Black Knight programme initially produced data in support of the UK's Blue Streak intermediate range ballistic missile programme. The information helped in the design of Blue Streak's warhead re-entry body. This objective was swiftly achieved and Black Knight turned over to a related research programme on the physics of re-entering the Earth's atmosphere. This was conducted in collaboration with the United States. All of the launches were carried out in South Australia at the Woomera rocket range. Twenty two Black Knight rockets of varying configurations were successully launched between 1958 and 1965.

This scale model, with a choice of fittings for different configurations, was used in the wind tunnels of the Royal Aircraft Establshment, Bedford to assist in researching the aerodynamic design of the rocket.

Details

Category:
Space Technology
Object Number:
2019-504
Materials:
brass (copper, zinc alloy), metal (unknown) and wood (unidentified)
Measurements:
incl. box - 500mm
200mm
150mm
2kg
type:
model
credit:
Qinetiq Limited

Parts

Brown wooden box used to hold Black Knight ballistic test vehicle, wind tunnel model, ca. 1960

Wooden box for Black Knight ballistic test vehicle

Brown wooden box used to hold Black Knight ballistic test vehicle, wind tunnel model, ca. 1960

More

The Black Knight programme initially produced data in support of the UK's Blue Streak intermediate range ballistic missile programme. The information helped in the design of Blue Streak's warhead re-entry body. This objective was swiftly achieved and Black Knight turned over to a related research programme on the physics of re-entering the Earth's atmosphere. This was conducted in collaboration with the United States. All of the launches were carried out in South Australia at the Woomera rocket range. Twenty two Black Knight rockets of varying configurations were successully launched between 1958 and 1965.

This scale model, with a choice of fittings for different configurations, was used in the wind tunnels of the Royal Aircraft Establshment, Bedford to assist in researching the aerodynamic design of the rocket.

Measurements:
incl. box - 500mm
200mm
150mm
2kg
Materials:
brass (copper, zinc alloy) , metal (unknown) and wood (unidentified)
Object Number:
2019-504/1
type:
model
Long silver coloured cylindrical fitting for Black Knight ballistic test vehicle, wind tunnel model, ca. 1960. The cylinder is the base of the model with four fins at the bottom, two of which have brass points.

Black Knight ballistic test vehicle base fitting

Long silver coloured cylindrical fitting for Black Knight ballistic test vehicle, wind tunnel model, ca. 1960. The cylinder is the base of the model with four fins at the bottom, two of which have brass points.

More

The Black Knight programme initially produced data in support of the UK's Blue Streak intermediate range ballistic missile programme. The information helped in the design of Blue Streak's warhead re-entry body. This objective was swiftly achieved and Black Knight turned over to a related research programme on the physics of re-entering the Earth's atmosphere. This was conducted in collaboration with the United States. All of the launches were carried out in South Australia at the Woomera rocket range. Twenty two Black Knight rockets of varying configurations were successully launched between 1958 and 1965.

This scale model, with a choice of fittings for different configurations, was used in the wind tunnels of the Royal Aircraft Establshment, Bedford to assist in researching the aerodynamic design of the rocket.

Measurements:
overall part 2019-504/2: 263 mm 40 mm,
Materials:
metal (unknown) and brass (copper, zinc alloy)
Object Number:
2019-504/2
type:
model
Long silver coloured cylindrical fitting for Black Knight ballistic test vehicle, wind tunnel model, ca. 1960. The cylinder is one of the central fittings of the model.

Black Knight ballistic test vehicle long centre fitting

Long silver coloured cylindrical fitting for Black Knight ballistic test vehicle, wind tunnel model, ca. 1960. The cylinder is one of the central fittings of the model.

More

The Black Knight programme initially produced data in support of the UK's Blue Streak intermediate range ballistic missile programme. The information helped in the design of Blue Streak's warhead re-entry body. This objective was swiftly achieved and Black Knight turned over to a related research programme on the physics of re-entering the Earth's atmosphere. This was conducted in collaboration with the United States. All of the launches were carried out in South Australia at the Woomera rocket range. Twenty two Black Knight rockets of varying configurations were successully launched between 1958 and 1965.

This scale model, with a choice of fittings for different configurations, was used in the wind tunnels of the Royal Aircraft Establshment, Bedford to assist in researching the aerodynamic design of the rocket.

Measurements:
overall 2019-504/3: 255 mm 40 mm,
Materials:
metal (unknown) and brass (copper, zinc alloy)
Object Number:
2019-504/3
type:
model
Short silver coloured cylindrical fitting for Black Knight ballistic test vehicle, wind tunnel model, ca. 1960. The cylinder is one of the central fittings of the model.

Black Knight ballistic test vehicle short centre fitting

Short silver coloured cylindrical fitting for Black Knight ballistic test vehicle, wind tunnel model, ca. 1960. The cylinder is one of the central fittings of the model.

More

The Black Knight programme initially produced data in support of the UK's Blue Streak intermediate range ballistic missile programme. The information helped in the design of Blue Streak's warhead re-entry body. This objective was swiftly achieved and Black Knight turned over to a related research programme on the physics of re-entering the Earth's atmosphere. This was conducted in collaboration with the United States. All of the launches were carried out in South Australia at the Woomera rocket range. Twenty two Black Knight rockets of varying configurations were successully launched between 1958 and 1965.

This scale model, with a choice of fittings for different configurations, was used in the wind tunnels of the Royal Aircraft Establshment, Bedford to assist in researching the aerodynamic design of the rocket.

Measurements:
overall 2019-504/4: 141 mm 40 mm,
Materials:
metal (unknown) and brass (copper, zinc alloy)
Object Number:
2019-504/4
type:
model
Short silver coloured conical fitting Black Knight ballistic test vehicle, wind tunnel model, ca. 1960. The fitting is a pointed cone for the top of the model.

Pointed cone fitting for Black Knight ballistic test vehicle

Short silver coloured conical fitting Black Knight ballistic test vehicle, wind tunnel model, ca. 1960. The fitting is a pointed cone for the top of the model.

More

The Black Knight programme initially produced data in support of the UK's Blue Streak intermediate range ballistic missile programme. The information helped in the design of Blue Streak's warhead re-entry body. This objective was swiftly achieved and Black Knight turned over to a related research programme on the physics of re-entering the Earth's atmosphere. This was conducted in collaboration with the United States. All of the launches were carried out in South Australia at the Woomera rocket range. Twenty two Black Knight rockets of varying configurations were successully launched between 1958 and 1965.

This scale model, with a choice of fittings for different configurations, was used in the wind tunnels of the Royal Aircraft Establshment, Bedford to assist in researching the aerodynamic design of the rocket.

Measurements:
overall- 2019-504/5: 102 mm 40 mm,
Materials:
metal (unknown) and brass (copper, zinc alloy)
Object Number:
2019-504/5
type:
model
Short silver coloured conical fitting Black Knight ballistic test vehicle, wind tunnel model, ca. 1960. The fitting is a rounded cone for the top of the model.

Rounded cone fitting for Black Knight ballistic test vehicle

Short silver coloured conical fitting Black Knight ballistic test vehicle, wind tunnel model, ca. 1960. The fitting is a rounded cone for the top of the model.

More

The Black Knight programme initially produced data in support of the UK's Blue Streak intermediate range ballistic missile programme. The information helped in the design of Blue Streak's warhead re-entry body. This objective was swiftly achieved and Black Knight turned over to a related research programme on the physics of re-entering the Earth's atmosphere. This was conducted in collaboration with the United States. All of the launches were carried out in South Australia at the Woomera rocket range. Twenty two Black Knight rockets of varying configurations were successully launched between 1958 and 1965.

This scale model, with a choice of fittings for different configurations, was used in the wind tunnels of the Royal Aircraft Establshment, Bedford to assist in researching the aerodynamic design of the rocket.

Measurements:
overall- 2019-504/6: 75 mm 40 mm,
Materials:
metal (unknown) and brass (copper, zinc alloy)
Object Number:
2019-504/6
type:
model