Skua (rocket)

Skua is the designation of a British sounding rocket which was launched between 1959 and 1981 in four versions over 300 times.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7] The Skua was developed by Bristol Aerojet and RPE Wescott.[1]

Skua sounding rocket

It consisted of a starting stage made up of several Chick rockets (like the Petrel) that burned for 0.2 seconds.[1] They propelled the rocket 20 metres over the 5-metre-long launch tube.[1][8] After that, the Bantam main stage ignited.

The fastest Jet stream velocity ever measured (656 km/h or 408 mph) was recorded by instruments on board a Skua rocket above South Uist, Outer Hebrides, Scotland at an altitude of 47,000 m (154,200 ft), on 13 December 1967.[9]

Versions

There were four versions of the Skua rocket:[1][2][3][4][5]

Skua rocket versions
Version First Stage Second Stage Payload (kg) Apogee (km) Thrust (kN) Weight (kg) Diameter (m) Length (m)
Skua 1 3 x Chick Bantam 5 70 20 58 0.13 2.21
Skua 2 4 x Chick extended Bantam 5 100 27 68 0.13 2.42
Skua 3 4 x Chick extended Bantam 5 120 27 75 0.13 2.80
Skua 4 4 x Chick improved Bantam 7.5 140 27 83 0.13 2.80

References
  1. "Skua". www.astronautix.com. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  2. "Skua 1". www.astronautix.com. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  3. "Skua 2". www.astronautix.com. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  4. "Skua 3". www.astronautix.com. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  5. "Skua 4". www.astronautix.com. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  6. "Skua Sounding Rocket | Science Museum Group Collection". collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  7. "South Uist (Outer Hebrides), early 1970s". UCL DEPARTMENT OF SPACE & CLIMATE PHYSICS - MULLARD SPACE SCIENCE LABORATORY. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  8. "Skua Rocket". National Meteorological Library & Archive. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  9. "Strongest jetstream". 13 December 1967.


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