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X-series
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| X-2 / Orba | X-3 / Prospero | X-4 / Miranda |
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X-series
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| X-2 / Orba | X-3 / Prospero | X-4 / Miranda |
This page contains philatelic information on the UK X-series satellites. Catalog numbers, years of issue, and notes on the satellites featured are given when available. If readers know of additional information or images, please contact the authors using the e-mail addresses in the link at the bottom of this page.
Four Black Arrow program rockets were launched between 1969 and 1971 (five were built, but the program was cancelled, and the fifth was never launched). Of the four rocket launches, two were successful and two were failures.
| Launch date | Rocket | Satellite (payload) | Launch notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Arrow program | |||
| 1969-06-28 | R0 (live 1st/2nd stages, dummy 3rd stage) | X-0 (boilerplate) | Failed (destroyed by Range Officer after 50 seconds) |
| 1970-03-04 | R1 (live 1st/2nd stages, dummy 3rd stage) | X-1/Puck (boilerplate) | Sub-orbital mission (successful launch, but crash-landing) |
| 1970-09-02 | R2 (first all-up flight) | X-2/Orba | Failed (2nd stage shut down early after 13 seconds; rocket and payload disintegrated) |
| 1971-10-28 | R3 (all-up flight) | X-3/Prospero | Successful (satellite orbited) |
| Canceled | R4 (never launched) | In Science Museum in London | |
| 1974-03-09 | Scout D-1 | X-4/Miranda | Successful (not part of Black Arrow program) |
| Launch information (found elsewhere) |
Launch covers (including anniversary-of-launch covers, and launch-related event covers) (farther below) |
Other postal items (stamps, souvenir sheets, aerogrammes, postal cards, etc.) (immediately below) |
|---|---|---|
| X-series (UK) | X-series (UK) | X-series (UK) |
Below is a list of X-series satellite postal items (stamps, souvenir sheets, aerogrammes, postal cards, etc.).
| Country | Catalog Number | Type of Item | Year of Issue | Notes on Content |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| X-series (UK) | ||||
| X-0 [sub-orbital] [failed] | ||||
| No (non-launch cover) postal items found | ||||
| X-1 / Puck [sub-orbital] | ||||
| No (non-launch cover) postal items found | ||||
| X-2 / Orba [failed] | ||||
| No (non-launch cover) postal items found | ||||
| X-3 / Prospero | ||||
| Djibouti | Unknown a (Mi none) Unknown ia | On one stamp and in (upper-middle) margin of MS2 (a-b) [known illegal issue] On one stamp and in (upper-middle) margin of imperforate MS2 (a-b) | 2013 | X-3 / "Prospero" |
| Djibouti | Unknown fdc1 | MS2 on FDC | ||
| Djibouti | Unknown fdc2 | MS2 and (multi-color printed) cachet on FDC | ||
| X-4 / Miranda | ||||
| No (non-launch cover) postal items found | ||||
Below is a list of X-series satellite launch covers (including anniversary-of-launch covers, and launch-related event covers).
| Country | Cancel Date | Cancel Location | Type of Item | Notes on Content |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| X-series (UK) | ||||
| 1969-06-28: X-0 [sub-orbital] [failed] | ||||
| Australia | 1969-06-28 | Woomera SA | (Blue printed) cachet on cover | Failed at 4 km and destroyed by range safety officer |
| 1970-03-04: X-1 / Puck [sub-orbital] | ||||
| Australia | 1970-03-04 | Woomera SA | (Red printed) cachet on cover | Sub-orbital mission (successful launch, but crash-landing) |
| Australia | 1970-03-04 | Woomera SA | (Black printed) cachet on cover | Sub-orbital mission (successful launch, but crash-landing) |
| 1970-09-02: X-2 / Orba [failed] | ||||
| Australia | 1970-09-02 | Woomera SA | (Light-green and brown printed) cachet on cover | X-2 / Orba launch [failed] |
| Australia | 1970-09-02 | Woomera SA | (Red-brown printed) cachet (different) on cover | X-2 / Orba launch [failed] |
| 1971-10-28: X-3 / Prospero | ||||
| Australia | 1971-10-28 | Woomera SA | (Space Voyage) cachet on cover | X-3 / Prospero launch |
| Australia | 1971-10-28 | Woomera SA | (Blue and red and green printed) cachet on cover | X-3 / Prospero launch |
| Australia | 1971-10-28 | Woomera SA | (Tracking-related red printed) cachet on cover | X-3 / Prospero launch |
| Australia | 1971-10-28 | Woomera SA | (Tracking-related purple rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | X-3 / Prospero launch |
| Australia | 1971-10-28 | Woomera SA | (Black rubber-stamp) cachet on cover, also back flap | X-3 / Prospero launch |
| Australia | 1971-10-28 | Woomera SA | (Black rubber-stamp) cachet on (airmail) cover | X-3 / Prospero launch |
| 1974-03-08: X-4 / Miranda | ||||
| United States | 1974-03-08 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (InterSpace Cover) cachet on cover | X-4 / Miranda launch |
| United States | 1974-03-08 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Space Voyage) cachet on cover | X-4 / Miranda launch |
| United States | 1974-03-08 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Centennial) cachet on cover | X-4 / Miranda launch |
| United States | 1974-03-08 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Orbit Covers) cachet on cover | X-4 / Miranda launch (but Ariel-3/4 type depicted) |
| United States | 1974-03-08 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Swanson/DuBeau? blue rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | X-4 / Miranda launch |
| United States | 1974-03-08 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Swanson/DuBeau? blue and black rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | X-4 / Miranda launch |
| South Africa | 1974-03-09 | Kenmare | (Purple rubber-stamp) cachet (and signature) on cover | X-4 / Miranda launch |
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