Topaze (rocket)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Topaze (Véhicule Expérimental 111 Topaze) is the designation of a French sounding rocket.[1] The Topaze was developed by several French companies, notably Nord Aviation and Sud Aviation,[2] and built by SEREB (a joint venture of Nord and Sud, now known as Aérospatiale) and was the first guidable French sounding rocket.
Function | Sounding rocket |
---|---|
Manufacturer | SEREB |
Country of origin | France |
Size | |
Height | VE111C: 7.07 metres (23.2 ft) VE111L: 7.90 metres (25.9 ft) |
Mass | VE111C: 2,900 kilograms (6,400 lb) VE111L: 3,434 kilograms (7,571 lb) |
Stages | 1 |
Associated rockets | |
Derivative work | Saphir, Diamant |
Launch history | |
Status | Retired |
Launch sites | CIEES |
Total launches | 14 |
First flight | 19 December 1962 |
Last flight | 1965 |
VE111C stage | |
Powered by | NA802 |
Maximum thrust | 120 kilonewtons (27,000 lbf) |
Propellant | Solid |
VE111L / VE111LG stage | |
Powered by | NA803 |
Maximum thrust | 147 kilonewtons (33,000 lbf) |
Propellant | Solid |
It was part of the Pierres précieuses (fr.: gemstones) program, that included five prototypes Agathe, Topaze, Emeraude, Rubis and Saphir,[3] leading up to the Diamant orbital rocket.
The name indicates that it is a "Véhicule Expérimental" (Experimental Vehicle) with 1 stage, using solid propulsion (code 1), and guided (code 1).
The Topaze was launched 14 times from the CIEES launch site in Hammaguir (Hammaguira Bacchus pad), Algeria, by ONERA.[4]