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]
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 solid rocket motor of the main stage had an end-burning propellant grain and burned for 30 seconds.[9] The starting stage descended on parachutes and was re-filled and re-used.[10]
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.[11]
There were four versions of the Skua rocket:[1][2][3][4][5]
| Version | First Stage | Second Stage | Payload (kg) | Apogee (km) | Thrust at start (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 |
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