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Today in History: Prospero lifts off, Britain’s first home-rocket satellite

By Drooid · Oct 28, 2026, 10:33 UTC · How we work

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Summary

On 28 October 1971 the United Kingdom launched Prospero, the first British-built satellite placed into orbit by a British-made Black Arrow rocket, from Launch Area 5B at the RAAF Woomera Test Range in South Australia. The mission began a series of experiments on space-environment effects and kept contact until 1973.

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Story summary

On 28 October 1971 the United Kingdom launched Prospero, the first British-built satellite placed into orbit by a British-made Black Arrow rocket, from Launch Area 5B at the RAAF Woomera Test Range in South Australia. The mission began a series of experiments on space-environment effects and kept contact until 1973.