Skua (rocket)
Skua (left), Petrel (right)
Skua is the name of a British sounding rocket that was launched over 300 times in four versions between 1959 and 1981. The Skua was developed by Bristol Aerojet and RPE Wescott . It consisted of a launch stage consisting of several rockets of the Chick type, which burned for 0.2 seconds and carried the rocket 20 meters over the 5 meter long launch tube. Only then did the actual main stage of the bantam type ignite .
| Skua 1 | Skua 2 | Skua 3 | Skua 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting stage | 3 chick missiles | 4 chick missiles | ||
| Upper school | extended bantam | improved bantam | ||
| payload | 5 kg | 8 kg | ||
| Summit height | 70 km | 100 km | 120 km | 140 km |
| Start thrust | 20 kN | 27 kN | ||
| Takeoff mass | 58 kg | 68 kg | 75 kg | 83 kg |
| diameter | 0.13 m | |||
| length | 2.24 m | 2.42 m | 2.80 m | |
Web links
- Skua in the Encyclopedia Astronautica (English)