Black Knight home
topic index
Test vehicle. Country: UK. Status: Retired 1965.

The Black Knight was a British test vehicle designed to test re-entry vehicles for the Blue Streak MRBM. It was subsequently used for a series of US-sponsored test of RV radar signatures.

In July 1955 Sanders Roe was selected to build a rocket to test re-entry vehicle designs for the Blue Streak MRBM. The rocket was required to loft a 115 kg re-entry vehicle shape to an altitude of 800 km for re-entries at 5 km/sec. Two development launches and three RV tests were completed before the Blue Streak was cancelled in April 1960. However the vehicle continued in use in a new series of tests sponsored by the United States. These studied the radar signatures of RV's and their plasma trails, crucial in development of early warning and anti-ballistic missile systems. In order to reach the higher re-entry speeds of an ICBM, a Cuckoo second stage was added to the vehicle. This was mounted upside-down in order to accelerate the RV shape down into the atmosphere during descent. These flights were conducted in two series, code-named Gaslight and Dazzle.

The Gamma engines of the vehicle were manufactured by Bristol Siddley and used on both the Black Knight and Black Arrow launch vehicles. Propellants were High Test Peroxide and Kerosene. Black Knight used 4 chambers in two pairs on the Y and Z axes. The motors were gimballed to provide thrust in all axes. The Cuckoo second stage motor was manufactured at RPE Westcott.

Manufacturer: Saunders-Roe. Launches: 22. Failures: 3. Success Rate: 86.36%. First Launch Date: 1958-09-07. Last Launch Date: 1965-11-25. Launch data is: complete. Apogee: 803 km (498 mi). Total Mass: 6,400 kg (14,100 lb). Core Diameter: 0.91 m (2.98 ft). Total Length: 11.60 m (38.00 ft). Version:

Black Knight 201.

Single stage vehicle.

Launches: 9. First Launch Date: 1958-09-07. Last Launch Date: 1963-10-17. Apogee: 500 km (310 mi). Liftoff Thrust: 75.000 kN (16,860 lbf). Total Mass: 5,400 kg (11,900 lb). Core Diameter: 0.91 m (2.98 ft). Total Length: 10.20 m (33.40 ft).

  • Stage1: 1 x Black Knight 201-1. Gross Mass: 5,400 kg (11,900 lb). Empty Mass: 540 kg (1,190 lb). Motor: 1 x Gamma 201. Thrust (vac): 75.000 kN (16,860 lbf). Burn time: 140 sec. Length: 9.00 m (29.50 ft). Diameter: 0.91 m (2.98 ft). Propellants: H2O2/Kerosene.
Version:

Black Knight 201/C.

Two stage vehicle consisting of 1 x Black Knight 201 + 1 x Cuckoo IB

Launches: 4. Failures: 3. First Launch Date: 1960-05-24. Last Launch Date: 1961-06-07. Apogee: 500 km (310 mi). Liftoff Thrust: 95.000 kN (21,356 lbf). Total Mass: 6,400 kg (14,100 lb). Core Diameter: 0.91 m (2.98 ft). Total Length: 11.60 m (38.00 ft).

  • Stage1: 1 x Black Knight 201-1. Gross Mass: 5,400 kg (11,900 lb). Empty Mass: 540 kg (1,190 lb). Motor: 1 x Gamma 201. Thrust (vac): 75.000 kN (16,860 lbf). Burn time: 140 sec. Length: 9.00 m (29.50 ft). Diameter: 0.91 m (2.98 ft). Propellants: H2O2/Kerosene.
  • Stage2: 1 x Black Knight 201/C-2. Gross Mass: 200 kg (440 lb). Empty Mass: 57 kg (125 lb). Motor: 1 x Cuckoo IB. Thrust (vac): 80.900 kN (18,187 lbf). Burn time: 4.10 sec. Length: 1.20 m (3.90 ft). Diameter: 0.44 m (1.44 ft). Propellants: Solid.
Version:

Black Knight 201/C2.

Two stage vehicle consisting of 1 x Black Knight 201 + 1 x Cuckoo II

Launches: 1. First Launch Date: 1964-03-11. Last Launch Date: 1964-03-11.

  • Stage1: 1 x Black Knight 201-1. Gross Mass: 5,400 kg (11,900 lb). Empty Mass: 540 kg (1,190 lb). Motor: 1 x Gamma 201. Thrust (vac): 75.000 kN (16,860 lbf). Burn time: 140 sec. Length: 9.00 m (29.50 ft). Diameter: 0.91 m (2.98 ft). Propellants: H2O2/Kerosene.
  • Stage2: 1 x Black Knight 201/C2-2. Gross Mass: 200 kg (440 lb). Empty Mass: 37 kg (81 lb). Motor: 1 x Cuckoo II. Thrust (vac): 36.500 kN (8,206 lbf). Burn time: 10 sec. Length: 1.20 m (3.90 ft). Diameter: 0.44 m (1.44 ft). Propellants: Solid.
Version:

Black Knight 301/C.

Two stage vehicle consisting of 1 x Black Knight 301 + 1 x Cuckoo IB

Launches: 2. First Launch Date: 1962-08-24. Last Launch Date: 1962-11-29.

  • Stage1: 1 x Black Knight 301/C2-1. Gross Mass: 5,400 kg (11,900 lb). Empty Mass: 540 kg (1,190 lb). Motor: 1 x Gamma 301. Thrust (vac): 75.000 kN (16,860 lbf). Burn time: 140 sec. Length: 9.00 m (29.50 ft). Diameter: 0.91 m (2.98 ft). Propellants: H2O2/Kerosene.
  • Stage2: 1 x Black Knight 201/C-2. Gross Mass: 200 kg (440 lb). Empty Mass: 57 kg (125 lb). Motor: 1 x Cuckoo IB. Thrust (vac): 80.900 kN (18,187 lbf). Burn time: 4.10 sec. Length: 1.20 m (3.90 ft). Diameter: 0.44 m (1.44 ft). Propellants: Solid.
Version:

Black Knight 301/C2.

Two stage vehicle consisting of 1 x Black Knight 301 + 1 x Cuckoo II

Launches: 6. First Launch Date: 1964-08-05. Last Launch Date: 1965-11-25.

  • Stage1: 1 x Black Knight 301/C2-1. Gross Mass: 5,400 kg (11,900 lb). Empty Mass: 540 kg (1,190 lb). Motor: 1 x Gamma 301. Thrust (vac): 75.000 kN (16,860 lbf). Burn time: 140 sec. Length: 9.00 m (29.50 ft). Diameter: 0.91 m (2.98 ft). Propellants: H2O2/Kerosene.
  • Stage2: 1 x Black Knight 201/C2-2. Gross Mass: 200 kg (440 lb). Empty Mass: 37 kg (81 lb). Motor: 1 x Cuckoo II. Thrust (vac): 36.500 kN (8,206 lbf). Burn time: 10 sec. Length: 1.20 m (3.90 ft). Diameter: 0.44 m (1.44 ft). Propellants: Solid.
Black Knight Chronology

1958 September 7 - 10:33 GMT - Woomera LA5A. LV Model: Black Knight 201 . Black Knight-201 BK.01 Research and development test Agency: RAE. Apogee: 225 km (139 mi). Black Knight missile of the United Kingdom was launched from the Australian range at Woomera to an altitude of over 300 miles.

1959 March 12 - 10:50 GMT - Woomera LA5A. LV Model: Black Knight 201 . Black Knight-201 BK.03 Research and development test Agency: RAE. Apogee: 537 km (333 mi). Second British Black Knight rocket reached 350-mile altitude at Woomera, Australia.

1959 June 11 - 13:03 GMT - Woomera LA5A. LV Model: Black Knight 201 . Black Knight-201 BK.04 Research and development launch Agency: RAE. Apogee: 803 km (498 mi).

1959 June 29 - 11:33 GMT - Woomera LA5A. LV Model: Black Knight 201 . Black Knight-201 BK.05 Research and development launch Agency: RAE. Apogee: 442 km (274 mi).

1959 October 30 - 11:49 GMT - Woomera LA5A. LV Model: Black Knight 201 . Black Knight-201 BK.06 Research and development / Reentry Test / chemical release mission Agency: RAE. Apogee: 732 km (454 mi).

1960 May 24 - 11:30 GMT - Woomera LA5A. LV Model: Black Knight 201/C . Black Knight-201/C BK.08 FAILURE: Failure. Gaslight Re-entry Vehicle test Agency: RAE. Apogee: 563 km (349 mi).

1960 June 21 - 10:05 GMT - Woomera LA5A. LV Model: Black Knight 201/C . Black Knight-201/C BK.09 Gaslight Re-entry Vehicle test Agency: RAE. Apogee: 484 km (300 mi).

1960 July 25 - 11:54 GMT - Woomera LA5A. LV Model: Black Knight 201 . Black Knight-201 BK.07 Gaslight Re-entry Vehicle test Agency: RAE. Apogee: 531 km (329 mi).

1961 February 7 - 12:46 GMT - Woomera LA5A. LV Model: Black Knight 201 . Black Knight-201 BK.13 Gaslight Re-entry Vehicle test Agency: RAE. Apogee: 687 km (426 mi).

1961 May 9 - 12:07 GMT - Woomera LA5B. LV Model: Black Knight 201/C . Black Knight-201/C BK.14 FAILURE: Failure. Gaslight Re-entry Vehicle test Agency: RAE. Apogee: 415 km (257 mi).

1961 June 7 - 11:20 GMT - Woomera LA5B. LV Model: Black Knight 201/C . Black Knight-201/C BK.17 FAILURE: Failure. Gaslight Re-entry Vehicle test Agency: RAE. Apogee: 583 km (362 mi).

1962 May 1 - 13:13 GMT - Woomera LA5B. LV Model: Black Knight 201 . Black Knight-201 BK.15 Gaslight Re-entry Vehicle test Agency: RAE. Apogee: 795 km (493 mi).

1962 August 24 - 11:38 GMT - Woomera LA5B. LV Model: Black Knight 301/C . Black Knight-301/C BK.16 Gaslight Re-entry Vehicle test Agency: RAE. Apogee: 573 km (356 mi).

1962 November 29 - 16:33 GMT - Woomera LA5B. LV Model: Black Knight 301/C . Black Knight-301/C BK.18 Gaslight Re-entry Vehicle test Agency: RAE. Apogee: 576 km (357 mi).

1963 October 17 - 10:52 GMT - Woomera LA5B. LV Model: Black Knight 201 . Black Knight-201 BK.11 Blue Streak test Agency: ELDO/RAE. Apogee: 527 km (327 mi).

1964 March 11 - Woomera LA5B. LV Model: Black Knight 201/C2 . Black Knight-201/C2 BK.12 Dazzle re-entry vehicle test Agency: RAE. Apogee: 500 km (310 mi).

1964 August 5 - 17:15 GMT - Woomera LA5B. LV Model: Black Knight 301/C2 . Black Knight-301/C2 BK.19 Dazzle re-entry vehicle test Agency: RAE. Apogee: 602 km (374 mi).

1964 November 6 - 13:45 GMT - Woomera LA5B. LV Model: Black Knight 301/C2 . Black Knight-301/C2 BK.20 Dazzle re-entry vehicle test Agency: RAE. Apogee: 629 km (390 mi).

1965 April 21 - 11:02 GMT - Woomera LA5B. LV Model: Black Knight 301/C2 . Black Knight-301/C2 BK.21 Dazzle re-entry vehicle test Agency: RAE. Apogee: 651 km (404 mi).

1965 July 26 - 17:00 GMT - Woomera LA5B. LV Model: Black Knight 301/C2 . Black Knight-301/C2 BK.23 Dazzle re-entry vehicle test Agency: RAE. Apogee: 492 km (305 mi).

1965 September 28 - 14:35 GMT - Woomera LA5B. LV Model: Black Knight 301/C2 . Black Knight-301/C2 BK.24 Dazzle re-entry vehicle test Agency: RAE. Apogee: 605 km (375 mi).

1965 November 25 - 13:20 GMT - Woomera LA5B. LV Model: Black Knight 301/C2 . Black Knight-301/C2 BK.25 Dazzle re-entry vehicle test Agency: RAE. Apogee: 632 km (392 mi).

Bibliography:
Contact us with any corrections, additions, or comments.
Conditions for use of drawings, pictures, or other materials from this site..
To contact astronauts or cosmonauts.

© Mark Wade, 1997 - 2008 except where otherwise noted.