Skua
Credit: via Jean-Jacques Serra
British sounding rocket. In 1959, the Royal Meteorological Office's High Altitude Research Unit contracted with Bristol Aerojet and RPE Wescott to develop a low-cost meteorological rocket designed to reach altitudes of 80 km. The resulting Skua design consisted of Chick boosters which burned for 0.2 seconds to blast the rocket 20 m above the 5 m launch tube. Then the Bantam second stage would ignite and boost the payload to altitude. Four Skua variants were flown over the years.
Failures: 4. Success Rate: 99.07%. First Fail Date: 1966-10-20. Last Fail Date: 1976-01-21. Launch data is: incomplete.
Status: Retired 1981.
Height: 2.20 m (7.20 ft).
Diameter: 0.13 m (0.42 ft).
Apogee: 70 km (43 mi).
First Launch: 1962.01.01.
Last Launch: 1981.12.09.
Number: 429 .
More... - Chronology...
Associated Countries
See also
-
Skua In 1959, the Royal Meteorological Office's High Altitude Research Unit contracted with Bristol Aerojet and RPE Wescott to develop a low-cost meteorological rocket designed to reach altitudes of 80 km. The resulting Skua design consisted of Chick boosters which burned for 0.2 seconds to blast the rocket 20 m above the 5 m launch tube. Then the Bantam second stage would ignite and boost the payload to altitude. Four Skua variants were flown over the years. More...
Associated Manufacturers and Agencies
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Bristol Canadian manufacturer of rocket engines and rockets. Bristol Aerospace Limited, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. More...
Bibliography
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McDowell, Jonathan, Jonathan's Space Home Page (launch records), Harvard University, 1997-present. Web Address when accessed: here.
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Serra, Jean-Jacques, Rockets in Europe, Web Address when accessed: here.
Skua Chronology
1964 January 12 - .
16:00 GMT - .
Launch Site:
South Uist.
Launch Vehicle:
Skua.
- Wind,Temp - .
Nation: UK. Apogee: 50 km (31 mi).
1964 January 15 - .
19:00 GMT - .
Launch Site:
South Uist.
Launch Vehicle:
Skua.
- Wind,Temp - .
Nation: UK. Apogee: 57 km (35 mi).
1964 January 17 - .
20:00 GMT - .
Launch Site:
South Uist.
Launch Vehicle:
Skua.
- Wind,Temp - .
Nation: UK. Apogee: 65 km (40 mi).
1964 January 23 - .
23:00 GMT - .
Launch Site:
South Uist.
Launch Vehicle:
Skua.
- Wind,Temp - .
Nation: UK. Apogee: 40 km (24 mi).
1966 Nov - .
Launch Site:
El Arenosillo.
Launch Vehicle:
Skua.
- - .
Nation: Spain. Agency: INTA. Apogee: 75 km (46 mi).
1966 Nov - .
Launch Site:
El Arenosillo.
Launch Vehicle:
Skua.
- - .
Nation: Spain. Agency: INTA. Apogee: 75 km (46 mi).
1968 August 15 - .
02:23 GMT - .
Launch Site:
Woomera.
Launch Vehicle:
Skua.
LV Configuration: Skua S101.
- Met - .
Nation: Australia. Agency: WRE. Apogee: 65 km (40 mi).
1968 September 4 - .
12:12 GMT - .
Launch Site:
Woomera.
Launch Vehicle:
Skua.
LV Configuration: Skua S102.
- Met - .
Nation: Australia. Agency: WRE. Apogee: 58 km (36 mi).
1968 September 18 - .
11:33 GMT - .
Launch Site:
Woomera.
Launch Vehicle:
Skua.
LV Configuration: Skua S103.
- Met - .
Nation: Australia. Agency: WRE. Apogee: 64 km (39 mi).
1968 October 10 - .
00:18 GMT - .
Launch Site:
Woomera.
Launch Vehicle:
Skua.
LV Configuration: Skua S104.
- Met - .
Nation: Australia. Agency: WRE. Apogee: 67 km (41 mi).
1968 November 7 - .
21:36 GMT - .
Launch Site:
Woomera.
Launch Vehicle:
Skua.
LV Configuration: Skua S105.
- Met - .
Nation: Australia. Agency: WRE. Apogee: 63 km (39 mi).
1968 November 19 - .
12:03 GMT - .
Launch Site:
Woomera.
Launch Vehicle:
Skua.
LV Configuration: Skua S106.
- Met - .
Nation: Australia. Agency: WRE. Apogee: 61 km (37 mi).
1968 November 20 - .
17:03 GMT - .
Launch Site:
Woomera.
Launch Vehicle:
Skua.
LV Configuration: Skua S107.
- Met - .
Nation: Australia. Agency: WRE. Apogee: 66 km (41 mi).
1968 December 2 - .
22:23 GMT - .
Launch Site:
Woomera.
Launch Vehicle:
Skua.
LV Configuration: Skua S108.
- Met - .
Nation: Australia. Agency: WRE. Apogee: 62 km (38 mi).
1970 Sep - .
Launch Site:
Gan Island.
Launch Vehicle:
Skua.
- Gan Diurnal 6 - .
Nation: Maldives. Apogee: 60 km (37 mi).
1970 Sep - .
Launch Site:
Gan Island.
Launch Vehicle:
Skua.
- Gan Diurnal 4 - .
Nation: Maldives. Apogee: 60 km (37 mi).
1970 Sep - .
Launch Site:
Gan Island.
Launch Vehicle:
Skua.
- Gan Diurnal 1 - .
Nation: Maldives. Apogee: 60 km (37 mi).
1970 Sep - .
Launch Site:
Gan Island.
Launch Vehicle:
Skua.
- Gan Diurnal 3 - .
Nation: Maldives. Apogee: 60 km (37 mi).
1970 Sep - .
Launch Site:
Gan Island.
Launch Vehicle:
Skua.
- Gan Diurnal 5 - .
Nation: Maldives. Apogee: 60 km (37 mi).
1970 Sep - .
Launch Site:
Gan Island.
Launch Vehicle:
Skua.
- Gan Diurnal 7 - .
Nation: Maldives. Apogee: 60 km (37 mi).
1970 Sep - .
Launch Site:
Gan Island.
Launch Vehicle:
Skua.
- Gan Diurnal 8 - .
Nation: Maldives. Apogee: 60 km (37 mi).
1970 Sep - .
Launch Site:
Gan Island.
Launch Vehicle:
Skua.
- Gan Diurnal 10 - .
Nation: Maldives. Apogee: 60 km (37 mi).
1970 Sep - .
Launch Site:
Gan Island.
Launch Vehicle:
Skua.
- Gan Diurnal 11 - .
Nation: Maldives. Apogee: 60 km (37 mi).
1970 Sep - .
Launch Site:
Gan Island.
Launch Vehicle:
Skua.
- Gan Diurnal 2 - .
Nation: Maldives. Apogee: 60 km (37 mi).
1970 Sep - .
Launch Site:
Gan Island.
Launch Vehicle:
Skua.
- Gan Diurnal 12 - .
Nation: Maldives. Apogee: 60 km (37 mi).
1970 Sep - .
Launch Site:
Gan Island.
Launch Vehicle:
Skua.
- Gan Diurnal 9 - .
Nation: Maldives. Apogee: 60 km (37 mi).
1972 Jul - .
Launch Site:
Gan Island.
Launch Vehicle:
Skua.
- - .
Nation: Maldives. Apogee: 70 km (43 mi).
1973 September 21 - .
03:44 GMT - .
Launch Site:
Kourou.
Launch Vehicle:
Skua.
LV Configuration: Skua CIMO.
- BMO Sonde - .
Nation: France. Apogee: 50 km (31 mi).
1973 September 21 - .
15:39 GMT - .
Launch Site:
Kourou.
Launch Vehicle:
Skua.
LV Configuration: Skua CIMO.
- BMO Sonde - .
Nation: France. Apogee: 65 km (40 mi).
1973 September 22 - .
04:31 GMT - .
Launch Site:
Kourou.
Launch Vehicle:
Skua.
LV Configuration: Skua CIMO.
- BMO Sonde - .
Nation: France. Apogee: 69 km (42 mi).
1973 September 25 - .
00:51 GMT - .
Launch Site:
Kourou.
Launch Vehicle:
Skua.
LV Configuration: Skua CIMO.
- BMO Sonde - .
Nation: France. Apogee: 70 km (43 mi).
1973 September 25 - .
18:35 GMT - .
Launch Site:
Kourou.
Launch Vehicle:
Skua.
LV Configuration: Skua CIMO.
- BMO Sonde - .
Nation: France. Apogee: 70 km (43 mi).
1973 September 26 - .
01:01 GMT - .
Launch Site:
Kourou.
Launch Vehicle:
Skua.
LV Configuration: Skua CIMO.
- BMO Sonde - .
Nation: France. Apogee: 64 km (39 mi).
1973 September 26 - .
14:35 GMT - .
Launch Site:
Kourou.
Launch Vehicle:
Skua.
LV Configuration: Skua CIMO.
- BMO Sonde - .
Nation: France. Apogee: 65 km (40 mi).
1973 September 27 - .
14:20 GMT - .
Launch Site:
Kourou.
Launch Vehicle:
Skua.
LV Configuration: Skua CIMO.
- BMO Sonde - .
Nation: France. Apogee: 66 km (41 mi).
1973 September 28 - .
03:06 GMT - .
Launch Site:
Kourou.
Launch Vehicle:
Skua.
LV Configuration: Skua CIMO.
- BMO Sonde - .
Nation: France. Apogee: 70 km (43 mi).
1973 September 29 - .
03:24 GMT - .
Launch Site:
Kourou.
Launch Vehicle:
Skua.
LV Configuration: Skua CIMO.
- BMO Sonde - .
Nation: France. Apogee: 88 km (54 mi).
1973 October 1 - .
04:02 GMT - .
Launch Site:
Kourou.
Launch Vehicle:
Skua.
LV Configuration: Skua CIMO.
- BMO Sonde - .
Nation: France. Apogee: 53 km (32 mi).
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