X-3, 2, 1...Blast Off!

Replica console from BLACK ARROW rocket testing facility at The Needles, Isle of Wight, UK.
I hope the year is treating you well a few days in. Today is sponsored by the letter 'X' and the numbers 1971 and 2023.

X-3 was another name given to the Prospero satellite, launched by the BLACK ARROW rocket in 1971 (a technical overview can be found on the Wight Aviation Museum website) and X-1 is shorthand for a radio show on Satsuma Radio and Mixcloud that plays all manner of electronic oddities, including some highlights from BLACK ARROW, which concluded the most recent show.

Apparently there was a radio show in the 50s with the same name too which featured science fiction writers (Asimov was on there, who happened to write a book called 'X' Stands for Unknown and one we borrowed the title of). Anyway, enough rambling connections around the letter X and space. Have a listen to X Minus One below. 🚀

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