A vertical empire : the history of the UK rocket and space programme, 1950-1971 / C.N. Hill.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Hill, C. N.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Astronautics--Great Britain--History.

Astronautics.

Rocketry--Great Britain--History.

Rocketry.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (260p. ) illustrations, maps

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

London : Imperial College Press ; River Edge, NJ : World Scientific Pub. [distributor], c2001.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

A discussion of the work in rocketry and space research carried out in the UK in the 1950's and 1960's. The projects covered include rocket-propelled aircraft, large military missiles such as the medium range ballistic missile "Blue Streak", and the satellite launcher "Black Arrow".

"A Vertical Empire" describes the work in rocketry and space research carried out in the UK in the 1950's and 1960's. At one time, the programme was as sophisticated as those in the US and Russia. The projects were cancelled one by one as Britain's attempts to keep up militarily with the two superpowers weakened, as a consequence of Treasury pressure and the belief that there was no economic future in space technology.;Much of the material in this book has never been available before, due partly to the 30-Year Rule concerning government documents, and partly to the sensitive military nature of the work. The projects covered include rocket-propelled aircraft, large military missiles such as the medium range ballistic missile "Blue Streak", the test rocket "Black Knight" and the re-entry experiments it carried, and the satellite launcher "Black Arrow". In addition, proposed projects that could have been developed from these vehicles are covered in depth. There is also considerable political analysis of why these projects were eventually discontinued.

Contents:

1. Introduction

2. Rocket motors

3. Rocket interceptors

4. The Blue Steel Stand Off missile

5. Blue Streak: the origins

6. Blue Streak: the cancellation

7. B.S.S.L.V.

8. ELDO and Europa

9. Black Knight

10. Black Arrow

11. The could have beens

12. The U.K. and space.

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Includes bibliographical references (p. 249) and index.

ISBN:

9786611866082

9781281866080

1281866083

9781848161627

184816162X

OCLC:

748530831