Parachute container and ejection piston for Skua Meteorological Rocket made by Bristol Aerojet Limited, England, 1965-1972.

Skua rockets were used by the Meteorological Office High Altitude Research Branch for their atmospheric studies, from 1959 into the late 1970s. They collected wind speed, temperature and height data between 15 km and 70 km. An explosive charge would force the piston forward, separating the nose cone from the rocket and therefore allowing the parachute to deploy.