Discussion Fire Across the Desert

[Nicholas Kang]

Something to share with all of you:

A member in NSF (nasaspaceflight.com) mentioned about the free release of an encyclopedic book, "Fire Across The Desert 1946-1980" by the The Australian Department of Defence, Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG). This is an encyclopedic book on the history of Woomera and the Anglo-Australia Joint project.

The ebook can now be found here.

Warning: Large file size! (PDF: 48 MB and 224 MB, ePub: 192 MB, mobi: 410 MB)

Enjoy!

 

[Notebook]

Thanks for this Nicholas.

I have a keen interest in all things Woomera. I grew up not far from Spadeadam when the BLue Streak rocket was being tested. Never got to see any fly, but I have seen one in the air-museum at South Fortune, Scotland.

Any one interested in the UK rocket programs, this is a good read too:
http://www.spaceuk.org/

specifically for Blue Streak:

http://www.bis-space.com/eshop/products-page-2/merchandise/books/de-havilland-blue-streak/

N.

N.

 

[Nicholas Kang]

Thanks for this Nicholas.

I have a keen interest in all things Woomera. I grew up not far from Spadeadam when the BLue Streak rocket was being tested. Never got to see any fly, but I have seen one in the air-museum at South Fortune, Scotland.

Any one interested in the UK rocket programs, this is a good read too:
http://www.spaceuk.org/

specifically for Blue Streak:

http://www.bis-space.com/eshop/products-page-2/merchandise/books/de-havilland-blue-streak/

N.

You are welcome. :thumbup: You are lucky to live near a rocket test site. I think most probably that influenced your interest and brought you into OF.

It is sad to say that both Australia and the UK did not embark on a journey that will lead them into spacefaring nations.

EDIT: I just found out that Spadeadam is not in Australia. My bad. :facepalm:

 

[Notebook]

Excellent, hadn't thought of living in Australia, would like a visit. Definitely not born there!:rofl:

I should have made it clearer.
Spadeadam is an area in Northern England, close to the Scots border: Its where Blue Streak and its engines were tested before being shipped to Woomera. I say grew up near, its about 40 miles away, but the nearest I'll ever get to a rocket test!
Spadeadam is still operational as an Electronic Warfare range. Often get NATO aircraft en-route flying over.

First part of this film shows the Spadeadam site:

UK couldn't afford Blue Streak on its own, but it should have tried to get more co-operation from The Commonwealth or Europe. Blue Streak was probably a dead-end, but it could have been used to kickstart the industry.
Black Arrow was a bigger scandal I think, we had a working rocket and put a payload in orbit then just gave up. Shocking!
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7aVCx-WpRI"]Black Arrow British rocket:"Abandoned after the first successful launch satellite" from Nick Stevens - YouTube[/ame]

N.