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Prospero (satellite)

Prospero
Prospero X-3 model 2012.JPG
Flight spare of the Prospero satellite in Science Museum, London.
Mission type Technology
Operator RAE
COSPAR ID 1971-093A
SATCAT no. 5580
Spacecraft properties
Manufacturer BAC
Marconi
Launch mass 66 kilograms (146 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date 28 October 1971 (1971-10-28)
Rocket Black Arrow R3
Launch site Woomera LA-5B
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric
Regime Low Earth
Semi-major axis 7,295.54 kilometres (4,533.24 mi)
Eccentricity 0.053451
Perigee 534 kilometres (332 mi)
Apogee 1,314 kilometres (816 mi)
Inclination 82.04 degrees
Period 103.36 minutes
Epoch 24 January 2015, 04:50:31 UTC

The Prospero satellite, also known as the X-3, was launched by the United Kingdom in 1971. It was designed to undertake a series of experiments to study the effects of space environment on communications satellites and remained operational until 1973, after which it was contacted annually for over twenty-five years. Although Prospero was the first British satellite to have been launched successfully by a British rocket, the first British satellite placed in orbit was Ariel 1, launched in April 1962 on a U.S. rocket.

Prospero has the COSPAR (NSSC ID) designation 1971-093A and the US Space Command satellite catalogue number 05580.

Prospero was built by the Royal Aircraft Establishment in Farnborough. Initially called Puck, it was designed to conduct experiments to test the technologies necessary for communication satellites, such as solar cells, telemetry and power systems. It also carried a micrometeoroid detector, to measure the presence of very small particles. When the Ministry of Defence cancelled the Black Arrow programme, the development team decided to continue with the project, but renamed the satellite Prospero when it was announced it would be the last launch attempt using a British rocket. An earlier Black Arrow launch, carrying the Orba X-2 satellite, had failed to achieve orbit after a premature second-stage shut down.

Prospero was launched at 04:09 GMT on 28 October 1971, from Launch Area 5B (LA-5B) at Woomera, South Australia, on a Black Arrow rocket, making Britain the sixth nation to place a satellite into orbit using a domestically developed carrier rocket. The Black Arrow's final stage Waxwing rocket also entered orbit, "rather too enthusiastically", as it continued to thrust after separation and collided with Prospero, detaching one of the satellite's four radio antennae.


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