Britain built a rocket, launched one satellite, and then walked away.

On October 28, 1971, a Black Arrow rocket lifted off from Woomera in South Australia and placed the small satellite Prospero into orbit. It made the United Kingdom the sixth nation to launch a satellite on its own rocket.

By then the government had already decided to cancel the Black Arrow program to save money, so Prospero's flight was both a triumph and a farewell. The satellite tested technology such as solar cells in space.

Should countries keep their own space programs, or rely on partners?

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