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]]
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