Index

Space Launchers

Suborbital Vehicles

Rocket Ranges

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The first integrated vehicle was the VE10 Aigle, intended to test the telemetering equipment. It was simply stabilized by fins and propelled by an SEPR 737 Stromboli loaded with 984 kg of Plastolite propellant, of which diameter was also 55 cm. Its 360 kg payload culminated at about twenty kilometers against 5 to 6 km for its predecessor. It was fired four times in 1960-61, then twice again in 1963-64 in a VE10A (Lightened) version.

Agate, first Precious Stone

The VE110 Agate was a single-stage vehicle which used a much more powerful motor, the NA801 Mammouth inherited from SSBT program. This motor, 80 cm in diameter, loaded with 1900 kg of Plastolite propellant, provided 190 kN during 18 seconds. The vehicle was neither controlled nor guided, but stabilized by a cruciform empennage. It was primarily used to test a recoverable equipment box, which was then to be used systematically on the test vehicles. Eight specimens were launched successfully between 1961 and 1963.

A shortened version VE110RR (Re-entry Recovery) was used to develop the recovery techniques at sea. After being programmed in the CEL (Test Center in the Landes), four launches were finally carried out in 1963-64 in the CERES (Special Weapons Tests and Research Center) situated in the Levant island.

Topaze, first French piloted rocket

The VE111 Topaze, was a vehicle of same diameter but shorter than Agate. It was propelled by a Soleil motor loaded with 1500 kg of Isolane, propellant more powerful than Plastolite. Equipped with four revolving nozzles, it was the first controlled vehicle of the series. Thus, it could be fired from a stand whereas the VE10 and VE110 used a ramp. It was to be also the second stage of the VE231 Saphir, but the expected performances required a VE111 comprising 700 kg more of propellant. Two versions successively came into the world, the VE111C (Short) with a NA802 motor and the VE111L (Long) with a NA803 motor.

Six specimens of VE111C, fired between late 1962 and late 1963, were devoted to the development of piloting by nozzle steering. Ten VE111 had been planned for that, but after a series of six successes, it was decided to hold the four remainders for the studies of piloting more unstable vehicles such as the MSBS. These tests, carried out in 1964 with a VE111CI (Short Unstable) version, comprised three successes out of four launches.

The VE111L was tested successfully twice in 1963-64. Two other specimens were used to test a complete inertial guidance system. These two launches in VE111LG (Long Guidance) version also were successful in May 1965.

Emeraude and the liquid propulsion

The first liquid-propelled Precious Stone was to use the experience gained by the LRBA with Veronique and Vesta rockets. The VE121 Emeraude used the same propellants (12,8 tons of nitric acid and turpentine). The diameter of the vehicle reached 1.40 m and the 280 kN engine, extrapolated that of Vesta, was always supplied by tanks pressurization. Emeraude was intended for the study of high power liquid propulsion and piloting by nozzle orientation (pitch and yaw) and aerodynamic control surfaces (roll). During the tests, Emeraude was topped by an inert Topaze mockup.

The first three launches, carried out in 1964, ended into failures due primarily to an ignorance of POGO effect and liquid propellants tossing. These defects could be corrected rather quickly and the last two launches were successful before mid-1965.

VE231 Saphir

Saphir, last EBB vehicle

In the VE231 Saphir, the second stage became active. This vehicle was to allow the in-flight experimentation of piloting a two-stage rocket, stages separation, inertial guidance and warhead re-entry. These various aspects were studied with three successive versions of the VE231, named P (Piloting), G (Guidance) and R (Re-entry).

Three VE231P were fired from July to October 1965, of which two successes. Six VE231G were fired successfully from March 1966 to January 1967, on ranges from 1500 to 2100 km. Five VE231R out of the six launched, allowed the study of ablative protection warhead re-entry between March and December 1966.

December 18, 1961, the Committee on Space Research decided to develop a space launcher, named Diamant, by replacing the Saphir payload by a third stage. An agreement was concluded between the DMA (Ministerial Delegation for Armament) and the CNES in May 1962, and the SEREB was nominated as project manager of the program. It was essential to equip Diamant with a high performances third stage. The choice turned to a reeled structure motor loaded with 640 kg of Isolane propellant and delivering a thrust from 27 to 53 kN during 45 seconds.

Rubis, experimental vehicle and sounding rocket

The VE210 Rubis was initially designed for in-flight testing the fairing jettison and the separation and spinning of the third stage. It was obtained by setting the Diamant upper part on an Agate first stage. Six launches, of which four successes, were carried out from June 1964 to June 1965 and validated the whole concept.

Four other launches of Rubis were carried out under the CNES responsibility. The first one was also a technological flight intended for the development of the D1 satellite. Two flights were devoted to radioastronomy experiments for the Paris Observatory, and another with a German geophysics experiment for the Max Plank Institute.

Tables
a/ SEREB vehicles
b/ Preliminary vehicles launches
b.1/ VE9
b.2/ VE10 Aigle
c/ Precious Stones launches
c.1/ VE110 Agate
c.2/ VE111 Topaze
c.3/ VE121 Emeraude
c.4/ VE231 Saphir
c.5/ VE210 Rubis
Listings by Philippe Jung, Alcatel Space, France