Falstaff (rocket)


Falstaff was a British sounding rocket used during the 1970s as part of the Chevaline programme to improve the penetrability of the Polaris nuclear missile. It was the largest UK rocket with a solid booster ever launched.

Polaris

The Falstaff was part of the Chevaline programme to improve the Polaris programme. The Penetration Aids Carrier was capable of maneuvering a Falstaff rocket and dispensing missiles. According to John Pitfield, the PAC was launched in 1969, 1975, 1976 and 1978.
Since the Australian government at the time was not in favour of nuclear weapons, the testing of the Falstaff vehicles on Australian soil had the potential to cause embarrassment. The details of over 4000 launches from the Woomera Range are still not fully released.
Before the revelation that the Falstaff rockets were part of a nuclear program, anti-nuclear campaigners in Australia had believed that testing ended in 1963.

Design

The Falstaff with the Stonechat Mk 2 booster was long and had a diameter of. It weighed of which was solid propellant. It delivered an average thrust of during 37 seconds.

Launches

The Falstaff was launched eight times between 1969 and 1979. All the launches were from the Woomera Test Range in Australia, north-west of Adelaide.
The first launch on 1 October 1969 used the Stonechat Mk 1 booster. The seven next launched used the Mk 2 variant. There was one failure, on 23 April 1978.
DateSiteVehicleApogee Result
1 October 1969WoomeraMk.ISuccess
9 May 1975WoomeraMk.II F0119Success
19 February 1976WoomeraMk.II F0 1117Success
23 May 1978WoomeraMk.II F1Vehicle failure
15 September 1978WoomeraMk.II F297Success
5 December 1978WoomeraMk.II F398Payload failure
14 February 1979WoomeraMk.II F493Success
4 April 1979WoomeraMk.II F5103Success

Commemoration

The Falstaff rocket was commemorated in an event cover that depicted a rocket recognisable as a Falstaff. 5 December 1978 was commemorated in such a way.