It is also known as starstreak hvm high velocity missile. Britains medium range ballistic missile traces the rise and fall of both missile systems. The two figures in the photograph are more of the same aliens that showed up in the solway firth photograph. Blue streak rocket program heritage listed by vanessa mills one of the places to be newly included on a heritage list is talgarno, the blue streak rocket site in the kimberley. A history of a cold war missile programme, 2000 flight in blue streak helps titan, vol. Oct 10, 20 books and journals stumpf, d k, titan ii. Blue streak was cancelled without entering full production. Blue streak missile news newspapers books scholar jstor february 2019 learn. A vertical empire provides a description of the british rocketry and space programme from the 1950s to 1970s, detailing the medium range ballistic missile blue streak and its conversion to a satellite launcher as part of the european launcher development organisation eldo. This design used blue streak as a first stage and a 54inch 7 centimetre second stage based on the black knight.
This is a quite reasonable explanation given that these were some of the first icbm experiments, and this was the first test of the blue streak. The blue streak was never designed to get to the moon, but in the previous book they had put some fuel tanks in orbit, and refueling from these just about gave the rocket the range. That was one of the reasons that blue streak newer went into active service as a missile. Designed to be based underground, blue streak presented a technological challenge and when a more advanced american missile called skybolt was offered to britain, blue streak was cancelled. This single stage silobased missile was intended to have a range of 2,500 miles. Media in category blue streak missiles the following 12 files are in this category, out of 12 total. Woomera blue streak incident the unexplained vault. A requirement of the project was the need to base the missiles in underground launchers to protect them from attack. Blue streak missile wikimili, the free encyclopedia wikimili, the fre.
Spadeadam rocket test site gilsland, england atlas obscura. Designed to deliver nuclear weapons, as part of britains independent nuclear capability, work focused on producing an intermediate range missile. The project was intended to maintain an independent british nuclear deterrent. In 1955 the intermediate range ballistic missile test centre was built for the blue streak missile project. Blue streak was a british designed medium range nuclear missile. When the photo was taken is in question, but it is clearly the blue streak missile, and has been confirmed as the woomera facility.
This post is a continuation of the solway firth spaceman controversy, as many have attempted to tie this photo, taken a few days after the solway. Despite concerns of limited resources, the air ministry proceeded with the missile, called blue streak, to fill the role, giving britain an independent deterrent until the early 1970s. World heritage encyclopedia, the aggregation of the largest online encyclopedias available, and the most definitive collection ever assembled. Following the agreement, the blue streak program was formally canceled in april 1960 and in may 1960 an agreement for an initial order of 100 skybolts was concluded. Free shipping and pickup in store on eligible orders. Its role was to support the development of the intermediate range ballistic missile irbm blue streak. In the middle of a barren moorland, the remnants of a lost british space age stand like a 20thcentury stonehenge. As a stopgap measure, us defence chiefs hoped to assist britain with the development of its own intermediate range missile. The spadeadam blue streak underground launcher facility u1. Shop amongst our popular books, including 18, grandmothers journal, sisters journal and more from blue streak. The blue streak did not use storable fuels, and that meant, that a refuelling would take about five minutes. Jul 26, 2019 his first two books on the thor ballistic missile attracted wide interest. Britains medium range ballistic missile 1 by john boyes isbn. Longrange ballistic missile blue streak hansard, 27.
The seaslug mark 2 was based on the aborted blue slug programme to develop an antiship missile using the seaslug missile and guidance system. Blue streak blue streak was a british medium range ballistic missile mrbm, and later the first stage of the europa satellite launch vehicle. It was to be a liquid fuelled missile tipped with a nuclear warhead with a range of around 1,500 nautical miles 2,4km, sufficient to reach moscow from the united kingdom. Blue streak britains medium range ballistic missile. In the early 1950s, the united states wished to concentrate its efforts on the development of a 4,000milerange intercontinental ballistic missile. Blue streak rocket program heritage listed abc kimberley wa. Only internal pressurisation prevented blue streak missiles from collapsing. T he blue streak missile launch incident in woomera, australia took place on 25 may 1964 what is significant about this launch is, it was aborted because of mysterious unidentified large figures wearing white seen walking around the launch pad, which bore a striking resemblance to the captured solway firth spaceman. It had improved low altitude performance and a limited anti. The underground launcher that would have to be used for blue streak. A catalogue record for this book is available from the british library. Jan 14, 20 one of the places to be newly included on a heritage list is talgarno, the blue streak rocket site in the kimberley.
Stand for paper model of blue streak missile internet archive. Learn more before you buy, or discover other cool products in aircraft. Dec, 20 the missile was launched on june 5, only to fail due to uncontrollable oscillations during final phase of burn due to fuel sloshing in tanks. The blue streak rocket launches in australia 1964 youtube. Avro was made an associate contractor to manage the skybolt program for the united kingdom and four different schemes were submitted to find a platform for the missile. Except perhaps the odd storm trooper about the author. In 1955, britain began developing a longrange liquidfuelled missile, the blue streak programme. Stand for paper model of british blue streak missile. The cover black and white photograph depicts the blue streak on the engine test stand at spadeadam.
Blue streak by john boyes overdrive rakuten overdrive. Blue streak was designed to deliver a twoton nuclear payload over a range of 4,500 kilometers a capability similar to that of the american atlas. The project was intended to maintain an independent british nuclear deterrent, replacing the v bomber fleet which would become obsolete by 1965. It also became very obvious that these silos were going to be horrendously expensive. A rescue mission is sent up from woomera using a juryrigged blue streak rocket with the schoolboy and a veteran astronaut who i think was called jock. His first two books on the thor ballistic missile attracted wide interest. Get free shipping on blue streak by john boyes, from. Similarly fred pitt, the senior civil engineer on the site, knew of the work but no details. Perhaps the strangest turn of events was a link to the planned launch of a blue streak missile in woomera, south australia. The spadeadam area was remote and largely uninhabited and known as spadeadam waste, until 1955 when the intermediate range ballistic missile test centre was built for the blue streak missile project. I know i was fascinated by my fathers description of the german v1 cruise missile of world war two. Specialised books for the serious student of conflict. As a stopgap measure, us defense chiefs hoped to assist britain with the development of.
The range contains groundbased electronics warfare equipment to act as a simulated threat to training aircrews. The blue streak rocket was originally a british ballistic missile designed in 1955. The project was cancelled in favour of the green cheese missile but other project developments were incorporated into what became the mark 2. Designed to deliver nuclear weapons, as part of britains i. It is held that these aliens on the launch pad caused the missile test to be aborted. Duration 14min 50sec release date 1964 sponsor central office of information for foreign office and commonwealth relations office text version of this film in 1955, britain began developing a longrange liquidfuelled missile, the blue streak programme. Britains medium range ballistic missile 9781781557006.
Cherokee country club was packed last wednesday for a sellout dinner to celebrate the launch of the book. Bloodhound missile project gutenberg selfpublishing. Skybolt would have been carried by the rafs vbombers, but skybolt itself became the subject of reassessment by the incoming kennedy administration. The missiles used liquid oxygen and kerosene propellants. This document details the air ministrys thoughts on the subject as early as 1958. Blue streak missile wikimili, the best wikipedia reader. Blue streak missile project gutenberg selfpublishing. Discover spadeadam rocket test site in gilsland, england. Despite us concerns that british resources were limited the air ministry nonetheless proceeded with the missile, called blue streak, to fulfil the operational requirement which would give britain an independent deterrent which should remain invulnerable until the early 1970s. Blue streak britains medium range ballistic missile the. The reasons for the projects cancellation are considered and blue streak s subsequent role as the first stage of the eldo civilian satellite launcher is noted. Perhaps it is a fondness for the brightlycolored 1950s plastic kits of then stateoftheart missiles, complete with realistic launch pads. The silos are described in the book on cold war archaeology by.
Longrange ballistic missile blue streak hansard, 27 april 1960. The united states and the united kingdom in partnership, but my order for both is on its way. Blue streak missile guidance bay nosecone on loan courtesy of national museums. It reads more like a novel than a memoir, and i highly recommend you grab a copy. The blue streak missile was a british medium range ballistic missile projected that was intended to maintain an independent british nuclear deterrent, replacing the v bomber fleet which would become obsolete by 1965. Tell us what you like and well recommend books youll love. The rear cover features a color photo of the first test flight of a europa1 first stage from woomera on june 5, 1964. The blue streak weapon1 british rockets and satellite. The definitive, behindthescenes story of the most innovative airline. Due to its large file size, this book may take longer to download. May 23, 2014 perhaps the strangest turn of events was a link to the planned launch of a blue streak missile in woomera, south australia. After launch, the missile accelerates to more than mach 4, making it the fastest shortrange surfacetoair missile in the world.
Starstreak is a british short range manportable airdefence system manpads manufactured by thales air defence formerly shorts missile systems, in belfast. To our knowledge blue streak has not been visited by any beings from outer space since being on display at the national space centre. Just days after mr templeton had taken his photograph, that missile test. Streak missiles are a type of guided munition used by the unsc navy for longranged antifighter duties. The raf took it over in 1976 and it became europes first electronic warfare tactics range in 1977.
In 1959, a year before the cancellation of the blue streak as a missile, the government requested that the rae and saundersroe design a carrier rocket based on blue streak and black knight. Britains medium range ballistic missile kindle edition by john boyes. Blue streak models are few and far between, but niels paper models offers a 196 paper model for download. Debunked blue streak missile woomera alien photograph. Jan 26, 2014 in 1955, britain began developing a longrange liquidfuelled missile, the blue streak programme. Britains medium range ballistic missile traces the path from the political decision to issue the contracts through the early development and testing both in the uk and in australia. Weldon owen, a division of bonnier publishing usa, will launch a new gift book imprint, blue streak books, this spring, with former running press vp and publisher chris navratil at the helm as. By striking first, the ussr might be able to eliminate the blue streak launch sites.
Blue streak rocket program heritage listed abc kimberley. Blue streak missile woomera alien photograph first, let me say thank you to the thousands of people who have read this blog, and to those who have commented, whether you agreed with me or not. Work on the project started in 1955 but the system was cancelled in 1960 in favour of the american air launched ballistic missile skybolt. A history of a cold war missile program, categorically states that blue streak was the free worlds first insilo launch weapon system concept. From the abc kimberley archives, heres an insight into why a local cattle.
The reasons for the projects cancellation are considered and blue streak s subsequent role as the first stage of the eldo civilian satellite launcher. Just days after mr templeton had taken his photograph, that missile. Leading automotive aftermarket supplier of engine management and temperature control products for import and domestic vehicles. It had always been intended that blue streak was to be launched from an underground site what is now called a silo, altho the word wasnt in use in british circles at the time. Britains blue streak, developed in the second half of the 1950s was potentially thors successor had the project not been cancelled but nonetheless is an obvious followon volume. Weldon owen to launch gift imprint, blue streak books. The bristol bloodhound is a british surfacetoair missile developed during the 1950s as the uks main air defence weapon, and was in largescale service with the royal air force raf and the forces of four other countries designed to provide a last line of defence for the v bomber bases to destroy any soviet bombers that got past the defending lightning interceptor force operating over the. Blue streak missile and thor able blue streak blue. Fonthill media book is a hard cover that includes 224 pages of text and drawings along with16 glossy pages of captioned photographs. Britains medium range ballistic missile fonthill media. Hannah baker is the collections officer at the national space centre. In the early 1950s the united states wished to concentrate its defense resources on the development of a 4,000 mile range intercontinental ballistic missile.
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