Waxwing Motor

Waxwing Motor

Waxwing was a solid fuel motor used as the third stage of the Black Arrow rocket. Black Arrow was a British rocket developed in the 1960s as a satellite launcher. It was launched three times before the programme was cancelled. However, a fourth launch was permitted as it had been planned prior to the programme being cut. This final launch became an historic flight. It was the first time a British rocket launched a British built satellite, making Britain the sixth nation to do so.

The satellite, Prospero, was mounted to a support section attached to Waxwing in the nosecone of the rocket. Waxwing, was an apogee motor, meaning it gave the final push to inject the satellite into orbit. To stabilise the satellite, six small red imp motors fired to spin a turntable, spinning both Waxwing and Prospero.

Once the second stage of Black Arrow finished firing and cut out, it detached and left the third stage to coast for about 300 seconds. Waxwing would then ignite at the top of the rocket’s trajectory to produce the velocity needed to inject the satellite into orbit. In fact, Waxwing performed a little better than expected and continued to produce thrust after it had released the satellite. This caused it to collide with Prospero, detaching an antenna from the satellite and entering Low Earth orbit itself.