I heard the name a lot in connection with the UK's aerospace development long ago. I wonder if the UK will ever have an independent orbital launch capability. There are a few commercial launch systems in the world now so it might not be necessary. Would it ever be viable commercially for the UK to launch orbiters from Ascension Island, for example?
@andrewburbidge Ascension island is too small an island and the terrain and sea level is not suitable to go and build a launch pad the UK will one day have its own space program recently there has been government talks over missions to the moon and mars there is a plan to send a droid to scan the moon for water so as to build a space station their one day although if money proves victor again it will certainly be another 20 years before we talk about this again i hope that wont happen.
@JamesCunnyy The area is big enough comparing it with what seems to be needed at the French launch site, Kourou. Because of the equatorial bulge of Earth, Ascension Island is a lot higher than Cape Canaveral, for example, and the assist from Earth's spin is greater. And there's a lot of ocean to launch over. There's also an airstrip that was upgraded to allow for the Space Shuttle to land there. I think people will launch from there, eventually.
My grandfather also worked on this, I think he was chief aeronautical engineer on black knight and/or blue streak. I don't know much about it (he never talked much about what he did). His name was Mac Powell
we should probably have land based nuclear deterrent - something to replace trident. save the UK some much needed cash and just hope we don't need it in the future.
@9002joe we need trident now more than ever Argentina has a joint nuclear sub launch program with Brazil underway if they ever want to try to invade Falklands again they may launch a surprise nuclear attack so best to be safe than sorry also Russia constantly violates are air space with nuclear bombers near Scotland i don't want to take any risks with the Russians so theres two reasons why we should keep them.
@9002joe and we can save money in the form of stopping are aid to India, Russia, China and Brazil that would save a billion or so enough for a space program as they want aid to help their poverty yet they prioritize their space programs it is a utter waste of our money to selfish people they should give up their space programs and help their people if they want aid many things like that could save us countless billions and leaving the tax crazy EU and the bad management of finances in parliament
That's only half. Trust me, I've seen a 6th of it empty it weighs 2 ton. I segment is 20ft long. Trust me, I've been to the missile launch base.
Boaber1 2 months ago
They used to launch Blue Streak rockets from the Woomera Rocket Range in South Australia in the 1960s. I will upload a short vid soon on this.
ALFAGOMMA 2 years ago
Blue Streak was later lampooned by the press and nicknamed "Brown Stain." Yet another British "might have been."
Gruntol5 2 years ago
I would not like to sit under that eating my dinner!!
keithisleofwight 3 years ago
If you were I shouldn't bother to run! I once stood out in the open 200 yards from a static firing and it was awesome!
Samothrace83 3 years ago
my grandad built this rocket :)
well was one of the people who built it
elleh33 3 years ago
I heard the name a lot in connection with the UK's aerospace development long ago. I wonder if the UK will ever have an independent orbital launch capability. There are a few commercial launch systems in the world now so it might not be necessary. Would it ever be viable commercially for the UK to launch orbiters from Ascension Island, for example?
andrewburbidge 3 years ago
@andrewburbidge Ascension island is too small an island and the terrain and sea level is not suitable to go and build a launch pad the UK will one day have its own space program recently there has been government talks over missions to the moon and mars there is a plan to send a droid to scan the moon for water so as to build a space station their one day although if money proves victor again it will certainly be another 20 years before we talk about this again i hope that wont happen.
JamesCunnyy 10 months ago
@JamesCunnyy The area is big enough comparing it with what seems to be needed at the French launch site, Kourou. Because of the equatorial bulge of Earth, Ascension Island is a lot higher than Cape Canaveral, for example, and the assist from Earth's spin is greater. And there's a lot of ocean to launch over. There's also an airstrip that was upgraded to allow for the Space Shuttle to land there. I think people will launch from there, eventually.
andrewburbidge 10 months ago
@elleh33
My grandfather also worked on this, I think he was chief aeronautical engineer on black knight and/or blue streak. I don't know much about it (he never talked much about what he did). His name was Mac Powell
we should probably have land based nuclear deterrent - something to replace trident. save the UK some much needed cash and just hope we don't need it in the future.
9002joe 1 year ago
@9002joe we need trident now more than ever Argentina has a joint nuclear sub launch program with Brazil underway if they ever want to try to invade Falklands again they may launch a surprise nuclear attack so best to be safe than sorry also Russia constantly violates are air space with nuclear bombers near Scotland i don't want to take any risks with the Russians so theres two reasons why we should keep them.
JamesCunnyy 10 months ago
@9002joe and we can save money in the form of stopping are aid to India, Russia, China and Brazil that would save a billion or so enough for a space program as they want aid to help their poverty yet they prioritize their space programs it is a utter waste of our money to selfish people they should give up their space programs and help their people if they want aid many things like that could save us countless billions and leaving the tax crazy EU and the bad management of finances in parliament
JamesCunnyy 10 months ago