Diamond (rocket)
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Diamond is the designation of a family of French booster rockets, with whose assistance between 1965 and 1975 a whole number of small satellites were launched. This rocket was built in several versions.
Diamond A
The first version of this rocket, with which of France "Asterix" first satellite was launched on 28 November 1965 in Hammaguir, possessed a first stage of 10 m, 1.4 meters in diameter, and a weight of 14.7 metric tons. Their engines of the type LRBA Vexin supplied a thrust of 269 kN for 93 seconds. The second stage was 4.7 meters long and had a diameter of 80 centimeters. It weighed 2.9 metric tons and developed a thrust of 165 kN for a duration of 44 seconds. The third stage of 2.65 m in diameter. Its weight amounted to 709 kilograms. It burned for 45 seconds and developed a thrust of 27 kN to 53 kN. Completely installed, a Diamond A was 18.95 meters high and weighed 18.4 metric tons.
Diamond B
The Diamond B was a further developed version the Diamond A with more thrust. Its first stage was 14.2 meters long, had a diameter of 1.4 meters and weighed 20.1 metric tons. Its engine developed a thrust of 316 kN to 400 kN (as a function of the flight altitude) for 116 seconds. The second stage the Diamond B corresponded to that the Diamond A. The third stage was 1.67 meters long and had a diameter of 80 centimeters. It developed a thrust of 24 kN for 46 seconds. Completely assembled a Diamond B was 23.5 meters high and weighed 24.6 metric tons.
Diamond BP4
The Diamond BP4, whose development was begun in January 1972, had the same first and third stage as the Diamond B. Its second stage, which was derived from the MSBS rocket, was 2.28 meters long and 1.5 meters in diameter and developed a thrust of 180 kN for 55 seconds.
Launch log
- Payload Date launch site Type Remarks
- Asterix 26 Nov 1965 Hammaguir Diamant A
- Diapason 17 Feb 1966 Hammaguir Diamant A
- Diadème 1 08 Feb 1967 Hamaguir Diamant A Teilweise Versagen. Orbit zu niedrig.
- Diadème 2 15 Feb 1967 Hammaguir Diamant A
- Mika/Wika 10 Mar 1970 Kourou Diamant B
- Péole 12 Dec 1970 Kourou Diamant B
- Tournesol 15 Apr 1971 Kourou Diamant B
- Polaire 5 Dec 1971 Kourou Diamant B Zweite Stufe versagte
- Castor Pollux 22 May 1972 Kourou Diamant B Schutzhaube nicht abgetrennt
- Starlette 6 Feb 1975 Kourou Diamant BP4
- Pollux/Castor 17 May 1975 Kourou Diamant BP4
- Aura 27 Sep 1975 Kourou Diamant BP4
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