A Vertical Empire

The History of the British Rocketry Programme 1950-1971

The story of Britain's largest ever rocket and its chequered history as a missile and as a satellite launcher.

The SR53 and other rocket powered aircraft.

The liquid and solid fuelled motors developed by the U.K.

Other pages relating to the history of the British launcher programme.

Find out about the book!

A Vertical Empire is published by Imperial College Press, and this site gives a taste of what you will find in the book.

A new, extensively revised, and extended second edition has just been published!

Crown Copyright is reproduced with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office.

An Atomic Empire is also published by Imperial College Press, and details the rise and fall of Britain's nuclear power programme.

You can buy a copy from the publishers or from Amazon.

There is a companion website to this - An Atomic Empire - where you can find out more about Britain's atomic energy programme.