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 |
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
editDetails
editLaunches
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
editTopaze VE111LG
editOther uses
editReferences
edit- 1 2 3 4 5 "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.
- 1 2 Capdevila, Didier. "Les Constellations et les Pierres Précieuses". Capcom Espace. Retrieved 2023-08-29.
- 1 2 "News Digest". Aviation Week & Space Technology. Vol. 78, no. 1. January 7, 1963. p. 37.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 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.
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