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.
![]() Topaze versions | |
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 |
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/af/PierrePrecieusesf.png/220px-PierrePrecieusesf.png)
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]
Versions
editThere were three versions of the Topaze:[4][1]
- Topaze versions
-
VE111C
-
VE111L
-
VE111LG
Topaze VE111 / Topaze VE111C
edit- payload mass: 410 kg (900 lb)
- total mass: 2900 kg (6400 lb)
- length: 7.07 m (23.2 ft)
- range: 80 km (49 mi)
- liftoff thrust: 120.0 kN
- Soleil NA802 "Mammouth" solid rocket engine[7]
Launches
editThere were launches between 1962 and 1964, reaching an apogee of 80 km (49 mi).[1][5]
Date | Mission Description | Apogee (km) |
---|---|---|
1962 December 19 | Test mission | 80 |
1963 March 22 | Test mission | 80 |
1963 March 28 | Test mission | 80 |
1963 June 21 | Test mission | 80 |
1963 June 27 | Test mission | 80 |
1963 October 24 | Test mission | 80 |
1964 June 4 | MSBS test, failure | |
1964 October 21 | MSBS test | 80 |
1964 December 11 | MSBS test | 80 |
1964 December 15 | MSBS test | 80 |
Topaze VE111L
edit- payload mass: 360 kg (840 lb)
- total mass: 3434 kg (7570 lb)
- length: 7.90 m (25.9 ft)
- range: 110 km (68 mi)
- liftoff thrust 147.0 kN
- Soleil NA803 solid rocket engine[9]
Launches
edit- This version was launched eight times between 21 December 1963 and 21 May 1965, with apogees up to 110 km (68 mi).[1][5]
Date | Mission Description | Apogee (km) |
---|---|---|
1963 December 21 | Test mission | 110 km |
1964 March 11 | Test mission | 110 km |
Topaze VE111LG
edit- Soleil NA803 solid rocket engine
Launches
editThis version was launched two times in 1965.[1][5]
Date | Mission Description | Apogee (km) |
---|---|---|
1965 May 18 | Test mission | 100 km |
1965 May 21 | Test mission | 100 km |
Other uses
editThe Topaze was also used as the second stage of the Diamant rocket, the launch vehicle for France's first satellite, the Asterix-1, and the Saphir rocket.[5][3][10]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e "Topaze (VE-111)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
- ^ News Digest. // Aviation Week & Space Technology, January 7, 1963, v. 78, no. 1, p. 37.
- ^ a b Capdevila, Didier. "Les Constellations et les Pierres Précieuses". Capcom Espace. Retrieved 2023-08-29.
- ^ a b "News Digest". Aviation Week & Space Technology. Vol. 78, no. 1. January 7, 1963. p. 37.
- ^ a b c d e f g Wade, Mark (2019). "Topaze". Encyclopedia Astronautica.
- ^ Wade, Mark (2019). "Topaze VE111-1". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Retrieved 2023-11-11.
- ^ Wade, Mark (2019). "Soleil Mammouth". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Retrieved 2023-11-11.
- ^ Wade, Mark (2019). "Topaze VE111L-1". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Retrieved 2023-11-11.
- ^ Wade, Mark (2019). "Soleil NA803". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Retrieved 2023-11-11.
- ^ Wade, Mark (2019). "Diamant-2". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Retrieved 2023-11-11.