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Petrel 1

Launch vehicle · UK

Original archive entry. The text, images and links below are kept as they were written.

British sounding rocket. Petrel was a larger sounding rocket built by Bristol Aerojet using the same launch technique as Skua. Three Chick rockets blasted the upper stage and payload out of a 10-m long launch tube. The 4.5 kN Lapwing second stage burned for 30 seconds. A unique aspect was that the Chick boosters could be recovered and reloaded with propellant.

Payload: 18 kg (39 lb) to a 140 km altitude.

Country
UK
Stages
Chick, Lapwing
Agency
Bristol