BRITAIN'S FIRST SPACE ROCKET
The story of the Skylark |
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1958 Dec
03
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![](Fig.6.12%20SL11%20burner(proc)(40)(compx2).jpg)
The Skylark SL11 sodium
burners as positioned under the nose cone.
(National Archives of Australia: D891,
N58/1361) |
Summary: SL11 was the first to carry a
new type of scientific payload, a sodium vapour experiment that involved
ejecting several kilograms of sodium at height. The bright yellow glow
provided information about atmospheric density and wind speeds. This
experiment originated with David Bates, a distinguished professor at
Queen's University of Belfast, and was probably the first chemical release
from a rocket. Preparation:
To observe the sodium glow, SL11 had to be launched at twilight,
when the sun was at a depression of six degrees. This was achieved within
two minutes of the optimum time, a considerable feat.
Flight: SL11 was the
first to use the extended Skylark launch tower. An apogee of 129 - 137 km
(80 - 85 miles) miles) was achieved.
Recovery:
Presumably successful, but no details known.
Results:
Most successful. "...an impressive glow did indeed
occur, much to the delight of the popular press, which ran headlines
hailing the arrival of 'artificial moonlight' ". With others, Professor
Bates went on to write papers "...that are the foundation of research on
global change today as we seek to understand the response of the
atmosphere to the damage we inflict upon it." (Dalgarno, 1997)
Seq. Nos |
Launch date |
Ref.
(sponsor)
launch site |
Configuration |
Apogee km
(miles) |
Experim-enters |
Experiments |
Result |
12
(8) |
3
Dec
1958 |
SL11
(UK)
Woomera |
Unstabilised,
Raven 2A |
129-137
(80-85) |
Belfast
RAE |
Neutral atmosphere: density & winds > 60 km using sodium vapour
Test: magnetometer & photocells |
S
S |
|
More:
Brand, R. H. (2014), Britain's First Space Rocket, pp.117-118 &
613.
Massey & Robins (1986), History of British Space Science, p.30.
Dalgarno (1997), Sir David Robert Bates 1916-1994, p.49.
(Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society, Vol.43 Nov.1997)
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