Falstaff (rocket)

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Falstaff
Falstaff rocket shape-01.png
FunctionResearch rocket
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Size
Height5.3 m (17 ft)
Diameter92 cm (36 in)
Mass5,090 kilograms (11,220 lb)
Stages1
Launch history
StatusRetired
Launch sites Woomera Test Range
Total launches8
Successes7
Failures1
First flight1 October 1969
Last flight4 April 1979
Notable payloadsPenetration Aids Carrier (PAC)
stage
Thrust240 kilonewtons (54,000 lbf)
Burn time37 seconds

Falstaff was a British sounding rocket used during the 1970s as part of the Chevaline programme to improve the penetrability of the Polaris nuclear missile. It was the largest UK rocket with a solid booster ever launched.

Sounding rocket Rocket carrying scientific instruments

A sounding rocket, sometimes called a research rocket, is an instrument-carrying rocket designed to take measurements and perform scientific experiments during its sub-orbital flight. The rockets are used to carry instruments from 30 to 90 miles above the surface of the Earth, the altitude generally between weather balloons and satellites; the maximum altitude for balloons is about 25 mi (40 km) and the minimum for satellites is approximately 75 mi (121 km). Certain sounding rockets have an apogee between 620 and 930 miles, such as the Black Brant X and XII, which is the maximum apogee of their class. Sounding rockets often use military surplus rocket motors. NASA routinely flies the Terrier Mk 70 boosted Improved Orion, lifting 600–1,000-pound (270–450 kg) payloads into the exoatmospheric region between 60 and 125 miles.

Chevaline

Chevaline was a system to improve the penetrability of the warheads used by the British Polaris nuclear weapons system. Devised as an answer to the improved Soviet anti-ballistic missile defences around Moscow, the system increased the probability that at least one warhead would penetrate Moscow's anti-ballistic missile (ABM) defences, something which the Royal Navy's earlier UGM-27 Polaris re-entry vehicles (RV)s were thought to be unlikely to do.

Contents

Polaris

The Falstaff was part of the Chevaline programme to improve the Polaris programme. [1] [2] The Penetration Aids Carrier (PAC) was capable of maneuvering a Falstaff rocket and dispensing missiles. [2] According to John Pitfield, the PAC was launched in 1969, 1975, 1976 and 1978. [2]

Since the Australian government at the time was not in favour of nuclear weapons, the testing of the Falstaff vehicles on Australian soil had the potential to cause embarrassment. The details of over 4000 launches from the Woomera Range are still not fully released. [2]

Australia and weapons of mass destruction

Australia does not possess weapons of mass destruction, although it has participated in extensive research into nuclear, biological and chemical weapons in the past.

Before the revelation that the Falstaff rockets were part of a nuclear program, anti-nuclear campaigners in Australia had believed that testing ended in 1963. [1] [2]

Anti-nuclear movement in Australia

Nuclear weapons testing, uranium mining and export, and nuclear power have often been the subject of public debate in Australia, and the anti-nuclear movement in Australia has a long history. Its origins date back to the 1972–73 debate over French nuclear testing in the Pacific and the 1976–77 debate about uranium mining in Australia.

Design

The Falstaff with the Stonechat Mk 2 booster was 5.3 m (17 ft) long and had a diameter of 92 cm (36 in). It weighed 5.09 tonnes (5.01 long tons; 5.61 short tons) of which 4.34 tonnes (4.27 long tons; 4.78 short tons) was solid propellant. [3] It delivered an average thrust of 240 kilonewtons (54,000 lbf) during 37 seconds. [3]

A launch on 1 October 1969 used the Stonechat Mk 1 booster. [3]

Launches

The Falstaff was launched eight times between 1969 and 1979 at Woomera, Australia, seven of which were the Mk 2 variant. [3] There was one failure, on 23 April 1978. [3] [4] All the launches were from the Woomera Test Range in Australia, [3] 500 kilometres (310 mi) north-west of Adelaide.

DateSiteVehicleResult
1 October 1969WoomeraMk.ISuccessful launch
9 May 1975WoomeraMk.II F0Successful launch
19 February 1976WoomeraMk.II F0 1Successful launch
23 May 1978WoomeraMk.II F1Vehicle failed
15 September 1978WoomeraMk.II F2Successful launch
5 December 1978WoomeraMk.II F3Successful launch
14 February 1979WoomeraMk.II F4Successful launch
4 April 1979WoomeraMk.II F5Successful launch

Commemoration

The Falstaff rocket was commemorated in an event cover that depicted a rocket recognisable as a Falstaff. 5 December 1978 was commemorated in such a way. [5]

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References

  1. 1 2 "Secret nuclear testing at Woomera". ABC. 2 April 2002. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 O'Connell, Sanjida; Patrick, Barkham (1 April 2002). "Australia used for secret tests of UK ballistic missile". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Falstaff vehicles". sat-net.com. Retrieved 10 December 2013.
  4. "Falstaff". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 13 December 2013. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
  5. "F3 6 Dec 1978 Falstaff 3 launch from Woomera (ACFF/227)". Steve Irwin Stamps. Retrieved 13 December 2013.