Véronique (rocket)

A Véronique rocket being tested for launch in French Algeria

Véronique was a French liquid-fuelled sounding rocket that was partly developed by German scientists who had worked in Peenemünde.

Based on the German V-2 rocket, Véronique was the first West European liquid-fuel research rocket. A successor to the cancelled Super V-2, the Véronique was built between 1950 and 1969 in several versions, of which the versions P2, P6 and R were only experimental models. They were made in Vernon, Eure. The name Veronique is a portmanteau of Vernon-électronique, and is also a common French first name.

The first Véronique launch, on 20 February 1954, resulted in a launch failure, followed by a second launch a day later, on 21 February reaching 84 miles (135 km) in altitude with diesel oil and nitric acid as fuel. The second used turpentine instead of diesel oil, gaining 50% higher altitude.

See also

• Aggregat 8
• French space program