First flight of the UK Blue Streak rocket in 1964

On June 5^th 1964 the first successful launch of the Hawker Siddeley Dynamics Blue Streak rocket was made. It was described as a text book launch. Lift off occurred from Woomera’s Pad 6A at 00.44 BST (09.14 local time) and all primary mission objectives were achieved.

The rocket motors shut off at +147 seconds rather than the planned +153 seconds. This meant that the rocket landed in the Australian desert 600 miles from Woomera rather than the planned 960 miles.

A readjustment of the Blue Streak autopilot is to be made before the next flight to prevent an occurrence of an early shut down of the motor.

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