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Blue Streak (missile)

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de Havilland Propellers
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ProductsBlue Streak missile

Template:Infobox rocket

The Blue Streak, developed by de Havilland Propellers, was a British intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) project which subsequently served as the initial stage of the Europa satellite launch vehicle. Although it never reached full production, the missile played a significant role in UK aerospace history.

Originally conceived to preserve an autonomous British nuclear deterrent and supersede the aging V bomber fleet anticipated to become outdated by 1965, the missile's operational requirements were established in 1955 with design completion by 1957. However, during its development phase, it became apparent that the missile system was prohibitively expensive and vulnerable to pre-emptive strikes. Consequently, the project was terminated in 1960, with preference shifting towards the US-led Skybolt missile as a replacement.

To mitigate potential political fallout from this cancellation, the UK government proposed repurposing Blue Streak as the first stage of a civilian satellite launcher named Black Prince. Due to concerns over financial feasibility for the UK alone, international cooperation was pursued, culminating in the establishment of the European Launcher Development Organisation (ELDO). Within this framework, Blue Streak became the foundational stage for the Europa rocket.

Test launches of Europa took place initially at Australia's Woomera Test Range, followed by attempts at the Kourou facility in French Guiana. After a series of unsuccessful launches, ELDO was disbanded in 1972, leading to the retirement of Blue Streak alongside it.

Background

In the period following World War II (1945–1979), Britain's nuclear arsenal initially relied on free-fall bombs deployed by the V bomber fleet. However, it became evident that possessing a ballistic missile was crucial for maintaining a credible nuclear deterrent. Politically, there was a strong desire to sustain an independent deterrent capability, ensuring Britain's status as a significant global power. Due to limitations imposed by the Atomic Energy Act of 1946, the United Kingdom could not simply acquire American nuclear weapons in bulk.

In April 1954, the United States suggested a collaborative missile development program. Under this agreement, America would focus on creating an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) with a range of approximately 5,000 nautical miles (SM-65 Atlas), while Britain, supported by the US, would develop an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) capable of reaching around 2,000 nautical miles. This plan was formalized in the Wilson-Sandys Agreement in August 1954, which established cooperation, information sharing, and coordinated planning between the two nations. The decision to proceed was influenced by insights gained from American missile research and development. Initial booster specifications were set by the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough, with rocket engine design contributions from the Rocket Propulsion Establishment at Westcott. Operational Requirement 1139 specified a rocket with a minimum range of 1,500 nautical miles; the proposed design was intended to meet this criterion.

Development

The contract to manufacture the missile was awarded to de Havilland Propellers. The propulsion system featured an enhanced liquid-fueled Rocketdyne S-3D engine, developed domestically by Rolls-Royce and designated RZ.2. Two variants of this engine were produced: one delivering static thrust of approximately 137,000 pounds-force and another designed for a three-stage satellite launcher producing around 150,000 pounds-force. These engines were capable of thrust vectoring up to seven degrees during flight to aid in missile guidance. This setup placed significant demands on the autopilot system, which had to manage a rapidly decreasing vehicle mass while controlling engines that maintained nearly constant thrust. Vibration issues were particularly challenging at engine shutdown, making subsequent autopilot enhancements for satellite launchers notable accomplishments.

Among subcontractors, Sperry Gyroscope Company was responsible for developing the missile guidance system, while the nuclear warhead was engineered by the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment located at Aldermaston.

The missile utilized liquid oxygen and kerosene as propellants. Although it could remain fully fueled with over 20 tonnes of kerosene for extended periods, the approximately 60 tonnes of liquid oxygen needed to be loaded immediately prior to launch to avoid icing complications. This fueling process required about 4.5 minutes, rendering the missile unsuitable for rapid response scenarios. Consequently, it was vulnerable to surprise nuclear attacks launched without warning or during periods lacking sufficient tension to justify readiness. To mitigate this vulnerability, de Havilland introduced a stand-by mode allowing a missile to be held at thirty seconds' launch readiness for up to ten hours. Since missiles were deployed in pairs and preparing one for stand-by took ten hours, one missile could always remain ready for swift launch.

To safeguard missiles during fueling from pre-emptive strikes, the concept of housing them in underground silos was developed. These launchers were designed to endure blasts equivalent to one megaton of TNT detonated half a mile away—a British innovation later adopted by the United States. Identifying suitable locations for these silos proved challenging; RAF Spadeadam in Cumberland (now Cumbria) was the sole site where full-scale underground launcher construction commenced, although exploratory drilling occurred at various other sites. The remains of this test silo, known as U1, were uncovered in 2004 following tree clearance at Spadeadam. This location also served as a testing ground for both RZ.2 rocket engines and complete Blue Streak missiles. Optimal silo sites were typically found within stable rock formations across southern and northeastern England and eastern Scotland; however, building numerous underground facilities in rural areas incurred substantial economic, social, and political costs. Developing these subterranean launchers represented a significant technical challenge: scale models at 1/60th and 1/6th size based on a U-shaped design were constructed and evaluated at RPE Westcott. Three alternative designs were drafted before selecting one prototype labeled K11. RAF Upavon appeared to be the favored site for this prototype operational launcher, with the former RNAS base at Crail considered likely for initial operational deployment.

During 1955–1956, rocket motor tests took place at High Down Rocket Test Site on the Isle of Wight. Since no British location offered sufficient space for complete test flights, an additional test facility was established at Woomera Range Complex in South Australia.

Blue Streak launches from Woomera
Flight No. Launch date Result
F1 5 June 1964 Encountered uncontrollable oscillations near burn completion caused by fuel sloshing within tanks
F2 21 October 1964 Flight successful
F3 23 March 1965 Flight successful

Termination as a military initiative

Concerns emerged as the projected expenses surged from an initial estimate of £50 million presented to the Treasury in early 1955, to a staggering £300 million by late 1959. Critics within the civil service argued that the program's progress was sluggish compared to advancements in the United States and the Soviet Union. Template:Fix/category[citation needed]

Within the Civil Service, projections for total expenditure on the project varied widely, ranging between £550 million and £1.3 billion, reflecting differing ministerial opinions on whether to terminate or proceed with the initiative.

The project was abruptly terminated in April 1960.[1] Opposition within Whitehall intensified, and the cancellation was officially justified by concerns over vulnerability to a first-strike attack. Admiral of the Fleet Lord Mountbatten had vigorously advocated for immediate termination of the project in favor of equipping the Royal Navy with nuclear weapons capable of executing pre-emptive strikes.

SomeTemplate:Who viewed Blue Streak's cancellation as a significant setback not only for British defense industry ambitions but also for Commonwealth partner Australia, which held its own strategic interestTemplate:Fix/category[clarification needed] in the endeavor.

Following this, British military planners shifted their reliance for a strategic nuclear delivery platform to the Anglo-American Skybolt missile, until its cancellation by the United States amid advancement of their ICBM program. Subsequently, Britain procured the Polaris system from the US, deploying it aboard domestically constructed submarines.

Civilian initiatives - Black Prince and ELDO

Despite its termination as a defense project, there was considerable reluctance to fully abandon Blue Streak due to the substantial investment already made. The missile was intended to serve as the first stage of an entirely British satellite launcher called "Black Prince"; this concept incorporated a second stage derived from the Black Knight experimental vehicle and an orbital injection stage powered by a small hydrogen peroxide/kerosene engine.

However, Black Prince proved financially prohibitive for the UK alone, leading to the establishment of the European Launcher Development Organisation (ELDO). This consortium utilized Blue Streak as its initial stage, complemented by French and German-developed second and third stages. As part of ELDO's efforts, Blue Streak's first stage underwent three successful test firings at Australia's Woomera test range.

Black Prince

Main article: Black Prince (rocket)

In 1959, just a year prior to the Blue Streak missile program being terminated, the government commissioned the RAE and Saunders-Roe to develop a launch vehicle derived from both Blue Streak and Black Knight designs. This concept featured Blue Streak as the initial stage, paired with a 54-inch (140-centimetre) diameter second stage adapted from the Black Knight.[2] Various third stage options were planned, tailored according to the payload requirements and orbital parameters.

The projected development expenditure for Black Prince was approximately £35 million.

The intention was for Black Prince to become a Commonwealth initiative. However, Canada’s government under John Diefenbaker was already investing more than publicly disclosed in projects like Alouette, and Australia showed no interest in participating. South Africa had exited the Commonwealth by that time, while New Zealand’s potential involvement was expected to be limited to "modest" financial input.[3]

European Launcher Development Organisation

Main articles: European Launcher Development Organisation and Europa rocket
File:Blue Streak rocket remains.jpg
Plaque stating: "Remains of the first Blue Streak rocket launched from Woomera 5 June 1964. Discovered 50 km SE of Giles in 1980."

Rather than pursuing an independent effort, the UK proposed partnering with European nations to create a three-stage launch system capable of delivering a one-ton payload into low Earth orbit. The European Launcher Development Organisation (ELDO) comprised Belgium, Britain, France, West Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands, with Australia holding associate membership.

Initial activities commenced in 1962, and ELDO was officially established in 1964.

Within this collaboration, Blue Streak served as the first stage of the European vehicle; France contributed the Coralie second stage, Germany developed the third stage, Italy focused on satellite technology, while Belgium and the Netherlands managed tracking and telemetry systems. Australia provided the launch facilities.

This combined launcher was designated as Europa.

Following ten test flights, it became evident that Woomera was unsuitable for launching satellites into geosynchronous orbit. Consequently, in 1966 the decision was made to relocate operations to the French Guiana site at Kourou in South America. The F11 flight occurred there in November 1971 but ended prematurely due to autopilot failure causing vehicle disintegration. The subsequent F12 launch was deferred pending a project evaluation that ultimately resulted in terminating the Europa program.

ELDO later merged with the European Space Research Organisation to form what is now known as the European Space Agency.

Blue Streak launches under ELDO[4][5]
Flight No. Launch date Version First stage (Blue Streak) Second stage (Corali) Third stage (Astris) Payload Outcome
F4 24 May 1966 Europa-1 successful untested untested untested Flight completed successfully
F5 15 November 1966 Europa-1 successful untested untested untested Flight completed successfully
F6.1 4 June 1967 Europa-1 successful failed untested untested Failure of second stage ignition
F6.2 6 December 1967 Europa-1 successful failed failed failed Second stage separation failure
F7 29 November 1968 Europa-1 successful successful failed failed Third stage malfunction post-separation
F8 3 July 1969 Europa-1 successful successful failed failed Third stage malfunction post-separation
F9 24 June 1970 Europa-1 successful successful successful failed Fairing separation failure
F11 5 November 1971 Europa-2 successful successful successful failed Guidance system malfunction
F12 n/a untested untested untested Delivered to French Guiana
F13 n/a untested untested untested Placed at National Museum of Flight near Edinburgh
F14 n/a untested untested untested Exhibited at Deutsches Museum in Munich
F15 n/a untested untested untested Displayed at Euro Space Center, Redu, Belgium
F16 n/a untested untested untested Shown at NSC Leicester on loan from Liverpool Museums
F17 n/a n/a n/a n/a Only partial components completed
F18 n/a n/a n/a n/a Only partial components completed


Related initiatives

Between 1959 and 1972, several other concepts for a launch rocket based on Blue Streak were proposed alongside Black Prince, but none progressed beyond the design phase and were never fully constructed.

De Havilland and British Interplanetary Society concept

In 1959, de Havilland presented a solution to address the dimensional challenges posed by the Blue Streak/Black Knight combination by reconfiguring the 10 by 1 metre (30 by 3 feet) Black Knight into a spherical shape with a diameter of approximately 10-foot (3.0 m). Despite the conceptual soundness, the financial demands of development exceeded the program's limited budget.

Westland Helicopters Black Arrow

Main article: Black Arrow

After merging with Saunders Roe, Westland Helicopters developed the Black Arrow satellite launch vehicle, a three-stage rocket derived from the Black Knight test platform. The first stage diameter of Black Arrow was matched to that of the French Coralie (Europa's second stage) to ensure compatibility with Blue Streak. Incorporating Blue Streak as an additional stage would have enhanced Black Arrow’s payload capacity. To preserve this compatibility, the first stage dimensions were specified in metric units, while subsequent stages used imperial measurements.

Between 1969 and 1971, Black Arrow conducted four test flights from Woomera without an added Blue Streak stage; its final mission successfully deployed the satellite Prospero X-3 into orbit. The United Kingdom remains unique as the only nation to have created and subsequently discontinued a domestic satellite launch system.

Hawker Siddeley Dynamics concept

In 1972, Hawker Siddeley Dynamics Ltd released a brochure outlining a design that utilized Blue Streak as the first stage of a two-stage orbital rocket, combined with an American Centaur upper stage. The Centaur second stage could have been manufactured in the UK under license or imported from the United States. Both Blue Streak and Centaur had demonstrated high reliability at that point, and since both were pre-existing designs, development expenses would have been minimal. This configuration offered a payload capacity of 870–920 kg to geosynchronous orbit when using booster rockets, or 650–700 kg without them.

Blue Streak today

After the Blue Streak programme was discontinued, several of the surviving rockets were retained and are now displayed at various locations:

A segment comprising the propulsion bay, engines, and associated equipment is displayed at the Solway Aviation Museum, situated at Carlisle Lake District Airport. This museum, positioned only a few miles from the Spadeadam test range, holds numerous artifacts, photographs, and models related to the Blue Streak initiative, having inherited the original collection that was once exhibited on-site at Spadeadam.

RZ.2 engines are on public display at the National Space Centre, where two units rest on cradles alongside a Blue Streak rocket. Additional examples are exhibited at the Armagh Planetarium in Northern Ireland and again at the Euro Space Center in Redu, Belgium.

UK-based Blue Streak aficionado Robin Joseph possesses a variety of components including ignition systems and combustion chambers among other parts. He frequently presents his collection during space-themed events across the West Midlands.Template:Fix/category[citation needed]

A portion of the Blue Streak F1 rocket, launched on 5 June 1964 from Woomera, Australia, was discovered approximately 50 km southeast of Giles in 1980 (around 1000 km away) and is now displayed at Giles Weather Station. Additionally, the titanium framework from a German third stage was for some time positioned beside a gravel pit in Gloucestershire.

Remnants of Blue Streak F4, which was launched on 24 May 1965, are exhibited at Woomera.

Footage captured during a Blue Streak launch was briefly featured in the concluding episode of The Prisoner, titled "Fall Out". It also appeared within the Doctor Who serial "The Tenth Planet", where it represented the launch sequence of the fictional Zeus IV spacecraft. Visuals of Blue Streak 1 are incorporated into the 1997 motion picture Contact.

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  2. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named p124
  3. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named p126
  4. ↑ "Europa SLV Historiograph", HSD Ltd
  5. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named :0

References

  • Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  • Boyes, J. (2013). The Blue Streak Underground Launchers. Airfield Review No 140. Airfield Research Group.
  • Boyes, J. (2014). The Blue Streak Underground Launchers. Royal Air Force Historical Society Journal No. 58.

External links

Template:UKmissiles Template:UKColdWarProjects Template:Strategic nuclear weapon systems of the United Kingdom Lua error in Module:Authority_control at line 159: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).

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