Hydrogen Peroxide - Propulsion & Power History
United Kingdom (1945 - 1971)
General Information:
The Black Arrow was the United Kingdom's only launch vehicle and it used hydrogen peroxide/kerosene for the main propulsion (Gamma 8 & Gamma 2 Engines) which sucessfully lofted a UK satelite named Prospero. The Black Arrow was a follow on from the Black Knight which also used hydrogen peroxide/kerosene for the main propulsion (Gamma 201 and later Gamma 301 Engines). The Blue Steel rocket power cruise missle also used hydrogen peroxide/kerosene (Stentor Engines). In addition the UK sucessfully developed and fielded many man rated rocket assit hydrogen peroxide based propulsion systems for aircraft: Spectre on the Saunders Roe SR53 and Bristol-Siddeley BS605 on the Bucanneer S.50. Other hydrogen peroxide engines: Alpha, Beta 1, Sprite, Beta 2, Gamma 1, Spectre, Double Spectre, Gamma Type 2, Gamma Type 8, Larch & Scorpion. The UK is the origin of the staged combustion processs were the hydrogen peroxide is decomposed in a screen catalyst bed and then combusted with kerosene fuel. (Ref. 1, 2 & 3).
Photos:
Black_Knight_BK03_n_Team_on_Pad (Ref. 1)
Black-Arrow-Clears-Tower (Ref. 1)
Black-Arrow-R2-On-Pad-Faring-Removed
Sprite-Engine-Cutaway (Ref. 1)
Stentor-Engine-Assembly-Line (Ref. 1)
Stentor-Engine-Side-View (Ref. 1)
Videos:
Black-Arrow-R0 (Ref. 1)
Black-Knight-night-launch (Ref. 1)
Blue-Steel (Ref. 1)
Literature:
AIAA-1999-2739_A_Brief_History_of_Concentrated_Hydrogen_Peroxide_Uses-pitch
English-Heritage-Report_90-2007-High_Down_Test_Site_The_Needles_Isle_of_Wight_Rocket_Test_Site
H2O2_Conf_1999-Past_Present_Uses_of_Rocket_Grade_Hydrogen_Peroxide
hydrogen-peroxide-for-propulsion-and-power_PR_Stokes-1998
Royal_Aircraft_Est-Penalties-Using-Rocket-Motors-Wide-Temp_Range-1951
Royal_Aircraft_Est-Rept-RPD10-Development-Beta-I-Rocket-Motor
Royal_Aircraft_Est-RPD11-Further_Considerations_Selection_of_Oxidant_for_Rocket_Motors
References:
1) Hill, Nicholas, "A Vertical Empire - A History of British Rocketry Programme (1950 - 1971)", URL: www.spaceuk.org [cited July 4, 2008]
2) Sutton, George P., History of Liquid Propellant Rocket Engines, 2006 Edition, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Reston, Virginia
3) Millard, Douglas, The Black Arrow Rocket - A history of a satellite launch vehicle and its engines, NMSI Trading Ltd, Science Museum, London, 2001
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