Once We Had A Rocket - Part 1

Part 1 - In 1971, Britain launched the rocket Black Arrow which placed the only British launched satellite into orbit. The men who designed, built and tested the rocket tell the story of Britain's space race.

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• black
• arrow
• space
• rocket
• satellite
• prospero
• knight
• isle
• of
• wight
• britain

[05Rudey]

Strange speech impediment the narrator has.

[999knives]

@obakegadeso Also this programme got the sign-off in 1964, under Harold Wilson's government

[999knives]

@obakegadeso I thought it was Thatcher that disassembled Britain's manufacturing capability

[quarkwrok]

@obakegadeso Not about left or right in fact the APT tilting train was developed by BREL (nationalised) on a shoe string and when the money ran out (BR never got government money, even Leyland only got bailed out and bit of cash to finish off the Austin Meastro) was sold to the Italians (nationalised). The Pendolino uses British-developed technology and the Italians get the profit. We're only 6th GDP because we work such long hours. Jo Public is to blame too, not supporting/buying British.

[waspnag]

I know what happened hear, we were winning the race with just a shed to work in and USA didn't like it, we were broke and getting money from USA so they said stop your space programme and we'll keep funding your bankrupt nation. Just like they enterded both wars late so that our empire would crumble, so they could become world powers. i know its cynical but do u trust them after fake moon landing???

[maureenOWW]

@obakegadeso 'We went from being one of 3 countries that cld launch a satellite in 1971' - britain was the sixth country to launch a satellite, after USSR US France China and Japan.

[TitchTV]

Great post thanks. Fascinating time but in the typical 70's fashion was a case of what could've been??!!

[mpearson58]

Instructions for a British rocket launch: -

1. Place launch vehicle in milk bottle.

2. Light blue touch paper.

3. Stand well back.

Next launch due 5th November.

[obakegadeso]

All this technology developed by England, then mysteriously dropped at a crucial stage. Only to reappear a couple of years later.

Rosetta2004 you know this video is about the cancellation of the British satellite prog. Why twist it to make it sound like they are wingeing?

People like you make me sick. What is the point of your posting? A space programme? I don't call begging 3rd world countries for a ride for a homemade satellite a space prog. The left have no vision. We must shake them off

[obakegadeso]

The leaning train developed in Britain.. isn't the Gondola that runs from St Pancras to Paris a similar idea?

Concorde could have been taken much further, the expertise and technology was there. Scaled composites stole a march I think.

The whole country run down, sold off, all for the sake of left wing rubbish.

We owe the world NOTHING