Diamant 82552 223062798 2008-07-02T11:54:32Z 91.109.190.11 /* Diamant A */ {{Infobox rocket |name =Diamant |image =Diamant P6230215.JPG |caption = |function =Small [[launch vehicle]] |manufacturer =[[SEREB]] |country-origin =[[France]] |cpl-year = |cpl = |height =A: 18.95 [[Metre|m]]<br>B: 23.5 m<br>BP4: 21.6 m<br> |alt-height =A: 62.17 [[foot (unit)|ft]]<br>B: 77 ft<br>BP4: 70.7 ft |diameter =1.34 m |alt-diameter =4.39 ft |mass = 18,400 [[Kilogram|kg]] |alt-mass =40,500 [[pound (mass)|lb]] |stages = 3 |LEO-payload = 160 kg |alt-LEO = 350 lb |payload-location = |payload = |alt-payload = |payload-location2 = |payload2 = |alt-payload2 = |status = Retired |sites = A: [[Hammaguira]]<br>B/BP4: [[Kourou]] |first =A: [[26 November]] [[1965]]<br>B:[[10 March]] [[1970]]<br>BP4:[[6 February]] [[1975]] |last =A: [[15 February]] [[1967]]<br>B:[[21 May]] [[1973]]<br>BP4: [[27 September]] [[1975]] |launches =12 (A :4, B: 5, BP4: 3) |success =9 (A: 3, B: 3, BP4: 3) |fail =3 (A: 1, B: 2) |partial = |stage1diff = Diamant A |stage1name =[[Emeraude]] |stage1engines =4 [[Vexin B]] |stage1thrust =301.55 [[Newton (force)|kN]] |alt-stage1thrust =67,791 [[Pound force|lb<sub>f</sub>]] |stage1SI =221 sec |stage1time =93 seconds |stage1fuel = [[N2O4]]/[[UDMH]] |stage1adiff = Diamant B/BP4 |stage1aname =[[L-17]] |stage1aengines =4 [[Vexin C]] |stage1athrust =396.52 kN |alt-stage1athrust =89,142 lb<sub>f</sub> |stage1aSI =221 sec |stage1atime =110 seconds |stage1afuel = [[N2O4]]/[[UDMH]] |stage2diff = Diamant A/B |stage2name =[[Topaze]] |stage2engines =1 [[Solid rocket|Solid]] |stage2thrust =120.082 kN |alt-stage2thrust =26,996 lb<sub>f</sub> |stage2SI =255 sec |stage2time =39 seconds |stage2fuel = [[Solid rocket|Solid]] |stage2aname =[[P-4]] |stage2adiff = Diamant BP4 |stage2aengines =1 [[Solid rocket|Solid]] |stage2athrust =176 kN |alt-stage2athrust =39,566 lb<sub>f</sub> |stage2aSI =273 sec |stage2atime =55 seconds |stage2afuel = [[Solid rocket|Solid]] |stage3diff = Diamant A |stage3name =[[P-6]] |stage3engines =1 [[Solid rocket|Solid]] |stage3thrust =29.4 kN |alt-stage3thrust =6,609 lb<sub>f</sub> |stage3SI =211 sec |stage3time =39 seconds |stage3fuel = [[Solid rocket|Solid]] |stage3aname =[[P-6]] |stage3adiff = Diamant B/BP4 |stage3aengines =1 [[Solid rocket|Solid]] |stage3athrust =50 kN |alt-stage3athrust =11,240 lb<sub>f</sub> |stage3aSI =211 sec |stage3atime =46 seconds |stage3afuel = [[Solid rocket|Solid]] }} {{otheruses}} The '''Diamant''' rocket (''diamant'' is [[French language|French]] for "[[diamond]]") was the first exclusively [[France|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 [[Europe|European]] launcher projects.<br> 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 (satellite)|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.<br> Three successive versions of the Diamant [[rocket]] were developed, designated A, B and BP4. All versions had three stages and a payload of approximately 150kg for a 200km 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 ton]]s. 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 [[kilogram]]s. 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== {| border="2" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%;" |----- bgcolor="#FFDEAD" ! 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== *[http://www.capcomespace.net/dossiers/espace_europeen/ariane/index.htm] (french language page with history on french/ESA rockets) *[http://www.astronautix.com/lvfam/prestone.htm Precious stone] (Series of French rockets built in the 1950's-1960's) {{ELVs}} [[Category:French space program]] [[Category:Rockets and missiles]] [[Category:Space launch vehicles]] [[bg:Диамант (ракета)]] [[de:Diamant (Rakete)]] [[es:Diamant (cohete)]] [[fr:Fusée Diamant]] [[sk:Diamant (nosná raketa)]] [[fi:Diamant]] [[zh:鑽石號系列運載火箭]]