British satellite launch

sir – I note with pleasure that reports (July 23) on measures for UK space operations refer to Black Arrow, Britain’s only previous space programme. In the 1970s, it launched the Prospero satellite which, as far as I know, is still in orbit.

This wholly British effort was both financially and technically successful – so the government of the day, of course, cancelled it. I hope the current attempts do not suffer the same fate.

I am the last surviving team leader and was very pleased to have been part of that programme.

Bruce White

Limpley Stoke, Wiltshire