X3 satellite Prospero

This is a flight spare of the X3 satellite, which was named Prospero once it reached orbit. Britain developed Black Arrow as its national satellite launch vehicle in the late 1960s. After the programme was cancelled in July 1971, permission was given to fire one last rocket. This launcher, Black Arrow R3, successfully put the X3 into orbit on 28 October 1971, which made Britain the sixth country to launch a satellite using its own rocket.

Prospero was a pumpkin-shaped, spin-stabilised satellite weighing about 70 kg, intended to test basic systems such as solar cells, telemetry systems and thermal coatings.

Credit: Department of Trade and Industry
Object no: 1973-538