AERO HIGH was the third and largest of the three new rockets to come into use at this time and was an independent product of WRE'S Aerodynamics Division. It was an upper atmosphere research vehicle. Its purpose was to investigate chemiluminescent reactions by releasing chemicals and grenades at high altitudes. Twelve launches were carried out between 1968/ 1972. There were two early tests of this rocket in mid 1964 and about twenty-one launches in all. A variety of envelopes were produced with different colored cachets but I do not know the exact amount. This rocket was also launched in conjunction with the Kookaburra and Cockatoo rockets in 1970/ 1971 when six were launched within a ten-hour period.
KOOKABURRA. Upper Atmosphere Research Vehicle. Trials commenced with this rocket about 1968 when 110 rockets were launched between 1968 and 30th June 1976. A variety of envelopes for most of these trials were produced and I have a small selection of some of those produced.
CORELLA. A more powerful Upper Atmosphere Rocket designed to supersede Aero High. Two of these Corella's were launched one on the 4th Dec1975 and the other on the 29th April 1976. A few envelopes were made for these trials. All upper atmosphere research that had commenced in 1968, was completed in 1975.
The BLACK ARROW Trials. In 1964 the British Government decided to proceed with a launcher for small satellites based on Black Knight ,which was called Black Arrow. Its performance was similar to the American Scout rocket. Britain conducted these trials for the purpose of launching their own satellite on a British rocket. This was achieved by using a completely updated version of the Black Knight rocket. The vehicle, a three stage rocket ( two liquid fuelled and one with solid fuel ), using multiple uprated "Gamma" engines also (used by Black Knight ) with the same propellants and oxidizers. This new rocket however was considerably taller, had twice the base diameter of the former rocket and five rockets were built The Launcher 5 site at Woomera was used for the launchings of both the Black Knight and Black Arrow. The first launch of R-O in 1969 failed but the second was successful. The third in September of that year, just failed to launch a satellite when the second stage cut out thirteen seconds too soon. The fourth launch on the 28th October 1971 put Britain's X3 Prosperro into orbit. Unfortunately in the July of 1971 the Government cancelled the Black Arrow programme and R4 was never used. This is now housed in the Science Museum. Several types of commemorative envelopes were made for each of the four launches in the trial sequence, some of which were printed on airmail envelopes. The black and white envelopes depicting a map of England and Australia with a picture of a rocket were sketched by a Woomera resident and about two hundred were made. This person is still in contact with me.
JABIRU 1, 2 and 3. A Hypersonic Research Vehicle launched in Woomera from 1960. Six of this type of rocket was launched then the motor was changed in 1964 and it was renamed Aeromach or the Jabiru MK2. 12 launches were carried out with various experiments until 1971. Jabiru MK 3 was introduced and carried on until November 1974 with five more launchings. Commemorative envelopes were issued for the launchings on the 6th September 1974, stating that Jabiru 1 and 2 were launched on the same day. My records state that a Jabiru was launched on the 5th September, the 31st October and the final one on the 20th November 1974. According to a report in a brochure in my possesion it states that there were only about twenty envelopes made for this one launch in September 1974.
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