Diamant
 | |
| Function | Small launch vehicle |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | SEREB |
| Country of origin | France |
| Size | |
| Height | A: 18.95 m B: 23.5 m BP4: 21.6 m (A: 62.17 ft B: 77 ft BP4: 70.7 ft) |
| Diameter | 1.34 m (4.39 ft) |
| Mass | 18,400 kg (40,500 lb) |
| Stages | 3 |
| Capacity | |
| Payload to LEO | 160 kg (350 lb) |
| Launch history | |
| Status | Retired |
| Launch sites | A: Hammaguir B/BP4: Kourou |
| Total launches | 12 (A :4, B: 5, BP4: 3) |
| Success(es) | 9 (A: 3, B: 3, BP4: 3) |
| Failure(s) | 3 (A: 1, B: 2) |
| First flight | A: 26 November 1965 B:10 March 1970 BP4:6 February 1975 |
| Last flight | A: 15 February 1967 B:21 May 1973 BP4: 27 September 1975 |
| First stage (Diamant A) - Emeraude | |
| Engines | 4 Vexin B |
| Thrust | 301.55 kN (67,791 lbf) |
| Specific impulse | 221 sec |
| Burn time | 93 seconds |
| Propellant | N2O4/UDMH |
| First stage (Diamant B/BP4) - L-17 | |
| Engines | 4 Vexin C |
| Thrust | 396.52 kN (89,142 lbf) |
| Specific impulse | 221 sec |
| Burn time | 110 seconds |
| Propellant | N2O4/UDMH |
| Second stage (Diamant A/B) Topaze | |
| Engines | 1 Solid |
| Thrust | 120.082 kN (26,996 lbf) |
| Specific impulse | 255 sec |
| Burn time | 39 seconds |
| Propellant | Solid |
| Second stage (Diamant BP4) - P-4 | |
| Engines | 1 Solid |
| Thrust | 176 kN (39,566 lbf) |
| Specific impulse | 273 sec |
| Burn time | 55 seconds |
| Propellant | Solid |
| Third stage (Diamant A) - P-6 | |
| Engines | 1 Solid |
| Thrust | 29.4 kN (6,609 lbf) |
| Specific impulse | 211 sec |
| Burn time | 39 seconds |
| Propellant | Solid |
| Third stage (Diamant B/BP4) - P-6 | |
| Engines | 1 Solid |
| Thrust | 50 kN (11,240 lbf) |
| Specific impulse | 211 sec |
| Burn time | 46 seconds |
| Propellant | Solid |
The Diamant rocket (diamant is French for "diamond") was the first exclusively French expendable launch system and at the same time the first satellite launcher not built by either USA or USSR. As such it is the main predecessor of all subsequent European launcher projects.
It was derived from the military program Pierres précieuses (fr.: gemstones) that included the five prototypes Agathe, Topaze, Emeraude, Rubis et Saphir (Agate, Topaz, Emerald, Ruby and Sapphire). Out of 12 launch attempts between 1965 and 1975, 9 were successful. Most notably it was used to put Astérix, the first French satellite, into orbit on November 26, 1965. Despite the success, France stopped its national launcher program in favor of the European Ariane launcher in 1975.
Three successive versions of the Diamant rocket were developed, designated A, B and BP4. All versions had three stages and a payload of approximately 150 kg for a 200 km orbit.
Diamant A
This was the first version of the Diamant rocket. It was used to launch the Astérix and subsequently three other small satellites during 1965-67 from the base at Hammaguir in Algeria. Remarkably for a newly developed system, all four attempted launched were partly successful, the only failure occurring on the second launch when the payload was inserted into a lower orbit than planned. It 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.
Diamant B
An improved version of the Diamant A with a more powerful first stage. Five satellite launches were attempted between 1970 and 1973, of which the last two failed. All launches took place from Kourou in French Guyana, which thus became established as the sole French and European spaceport, a status that it still holds today (2008).
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.
Diamant BP4
This version incorporated a new second stage, while carrying the first and third stages over from its predecessor. It performed three successful launches in 1975, putting a total of four satellites into orbit. 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 list
| Date | Type | Launch Site | Payload | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 26, 1965 | Diamant A | Hammaguir | Asterix | |
| February 17, 1966 | Diamant A | Hammaguir | Diapason | |
| February 8, 1967 | Diamant A | Hammaguir | Diadème 1 | partial failure, orbit too low |
| February 15, 1967 | Diamant A | Hammaguir | Diadème 2 | |
| March 10, 1970 | Diamant B | Kourou | Mika/Wika | |
| December 12, 1970 | Diamant B | Kourou | Péole | |
| April 15, 1971 | Diamant B | Kourou | Tournesol | |
| December 6, 1971 | Diamant B | Kourou | Polaire | second stage failed |
| May 21, 1972 | Diamant B | Kourou | Castor/Pollux | fairing not separated |
| February 6, 1975 | Diamant BP4 | Kourou | Starlette | |
| May 17, 1975 | Diamant BP4 | Kourou | Castor/Pollux | |
| September 27, 1975 | Diamant BP4 | Kourou | Aura |
External links
- [1] (french language page with history on french/ESA rockets)
- Precious stone (Series of French rockets built in the 1950s-1960's)