Topaze (rocket)

Topaze (Véhicule Expérimental 111 Topaze) is the designation of a French sounding rocket.[1] The Topaze was developed by several French companies, notably Nord Aviation and Sud Aviation,[2] and built by SEREB (a joint venture of Nord and Sud, now known as Aérospatiale) and was the first guidable French sounding rocket.

Military space program Pierres précieuses (fr.: gemstones) that included the five prototypes Agathe, Topaze, Emeraude, Rubis et Saphir.
Topaze
Topaze versions
FunctionSounding rocket
ManufacturerSEREB
Country of originFrance
Size
HeightVE111C: 7.07 metres (23.2 ft)
VE111L: 7.90 metres (25.9 ft)
MassVE111C: 2,900 kilograms (6,400 lb)
VE111L: 3,434 kilograms (7,571 lb)
Stages1
Associated rockets
Derivative workSaphir, Diamant
Launch history
StatusRetired
Launch sitesCIEES
Total launches14
First flight19 December 1962
Last flight1965
VE111C stage
Powered byNA802
Maximum thrust120 kilonewtons (27,000 lbf)
PropellantSolid
VE111L / VE111LG stage
Powered byNA803
Maximum thrust147 kilonewtons (33,000 lbf)
PropellantSolid

It was part of the Pierres précieuses (fr.: gemstones) program, that included five prototypes Agathe, Topaze, Emeraude, Rubis and Saphir,[3] leading up to the Diamant orbital rocket.

The name indicates that it is a "Véhicule Expérimental" (Experimental Vehicle) with 1 stage, using solid propulsion (code 1), and guided (code 1).

The Topaze was launched 14 times from the CIEES launch site in Hammaguir (Hammaguira Bacchus pad), Algeria, by ONERA.[4]

Versions

There were three versions of the Topaze:[4][1]

  • Topaze versions
  • VE111C
    VE111C
  • VE111L
    VE111L
  • VE111LG
    VE111LG

Details[5]
  • payload mass: 410 kg (900 lb)
  • total mass: 2900 kg (6400 lb)
  • length: 7.07 m (23.2 ft)
  • range: 80 km (49 mi)
  • liftoff thrust: 120.0 kN
  • NA802 solid rocket engine

Launches

There were launches between 1962 and 1964, reaching an apogee of 80 km (49 mi).[1][5]

Topaze VE111 launches
Date Mission Description Apogee (km)
1962 December 19 Test mission 80
1963 March 22 Test mission 80
1963 March 28 Test mission 80
1963 June 21 Test mission 80
1963 June 27 Test mission 80
1963 October 24 Test mission 80
1964 June 4 MSBS test, failure
1964 October 21 MSBS test 80
1964 December 11 MSBS test 80
1964 December 15 MSBS test 80

Details[5]
  • payload mass: 360 kg (840 lb)
  • total mass: 3434 kg (7570 lb)
  • length: 7.90 m (25.9 ft)
  • range: 110 km (68 mi)
  • liftoff thrust 147.0 kN
  • NA803 solid rocket engine

Launches
This version was launched eight times between 21 December 1963 and 21 May 1965, with apogees up to 110 km (68 mi).[1][5]
Topaze VE111L launches
Date Mission Description Apogee (km)
1963 December 21 Test mission 110 km
1964 March 11 Test mission 110 km

Details[5]
  • NA803 solid rocket engine

Launches

This version was launched two times in 1965.[1][5]

Topaze VE111LG launches
Date Mission Description Apogee (km)
1965 May 18 Test mission 100 km
1965 May 21 Test mission 100 km

Other uses

The Topaze was also used as the second stage of the Diamant rocket, the launch vehicle for France's first satellite, the Asterix-1, and the Saphir rocket.[5][3]

References
  1. "Topaze (VE-111)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
  2. News Digest. // Aviation Week & Space Technology, January 7, 1963, v. 78, no. 1, p. 37.
  3. Capdevila, Didier. "Les Constellations et les Pierres Précieuses". Capcom Espace. Retrieved 2023-08-29.
  4. "News Digest". Aviation Week & Space Technology. Vol. 78, no. 1. January 7, 1963. p. 37.
  5. Wade, Mark. "Topaze". Astronautix. Archived from the original on December 28, 2016. Retrieved 28 April 2018.


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