Diamant A

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Diamant A

Part of Diamant

Diamant A
Credit: © Mark Wade

Diamant development could be done relatively quickly using stages and systems being developed for strategic missiles. In May 1962 CNES selected DMA as program manager, with SEREB as the prime contractor. The Diamant orbital launch vehicle was created by replacing the payload of the existing Saphir test vehicle with a new third stage. Prior to any all-up satellite launch attempt the P064 third stage was flight tested on the smaller suborbital Rubis test vehicle. This evolutionary approach paid off.

Status: Retired 1967. First Launch: 1965-11-26. Last Launch: 1967-02-15. Number: 4 . Payload: 160 kg (350 lb). Thrust: 265.50 kN (59,687 lbf). Gross mass: 18,400 kg (40,500 lb). Height: 18.95 m (62.17 ft). Diameter: 1.34 m (4.39 ft). Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

3 stage vehicle consisting of 1 x Emeraude + 1 x Topaze + 1 x P064.

LEO Payload: 160 kg (350 lb) to a 200 km orbit. Flyaway Unit Cost 1985$: 5.700 million.

Stage Data - Diamant A

Stage 1. 1 x Diamant-1. Gross Mass: 14,685 kg (32,374 lb). Empty Mass: 1,946 kg (4,290 lb). Thrust (vac): 301.550 kN (67,791 lbf). Isp: 251 sec. Burn time: 93 sec. Isp(sl): 221 sec. Diameter: 1.34 m (4.39 ft). Span: 2.30 m (7.50 ft). Length: 9.76 m (32.02 ft). Propellants: N2O4/UDMH. No Engines: 4. Engine: Vexin B. Other designations: Emeraude. Status: Out of Production.

Stage 2. 1 x Diamant-2. Gross Mass: 2,815 kg (6,206 lb). Empty Mass: 540 kg (1,190 lb). Thrust (vac): 120.082 kN (26,996 lbf). Isp: 255 sec. Burn time: 39 sec. Isp(sl): 225 sec. Diameter: 0.80 m (2.62 ft). Span: 0.80 m (2.62 ft). Length: 4.57 m (14.99 ft). Propellants: N2O4/UDMH. No Engines: 1. Engine: Topaze. Other designations: Topaze. Status: Out of Production.

Stage 3. 1 x Diamant-3. Gross Mass: 703 kg (1,549 lb). Empty Mass: 68 kg (149 lb). Thrust (vac): 29.400 kN (6,609 lbf). Isp: 211 sec. Burn time: 39 sec. Isp(sl): 211 sec. Diameter: 0.66 m (2.16 ft). Span: 0.66 m (2.16 ft). Length: 1.98 m (6.49 ft). Propellants: Solid. No Engines: 1. Engine: P6. Other designations: P-6. Status: Out of Production.

More at: Diamant A.

Family: orbital launch vehicle. Country: France. Spacecraft: Asterix, D, Diadem. Launch Sites: Hammaguira, Hammaguira Brigitte. Stages: Diamant-1, Diamant-2, P6. Agency: SEREB.

Photo Gallery

Diamant A
Credit: © Mark Wade

1965 November 26 - . 14:47 GMT - . Launch Site: Hammaguira. Launch Complex: Hammaguira Brigitte. LV Family: Diamant. Launch Vehicle: Diamant A.

Asterix 1 - . Payload: A 1. Mass: 42 kg (92 lb). Nation: France. Agency: CNES. Class: Technology. Type: Navigation technology satellite. Spacecraft: Asterix. USAF Sat Cat: 1778 . COSPAR: 1965-096A. Apogee: 1,697 km (1,054 mi). Perigee: 527 km (327 mi). Inclination: 34.30 deg. Period: 107.50 min. First French satellite. French scientific satellite 'A-I'. Launched from Hammaguir (Algeria) in rder to test the 'Diamant' launching vehicle for the first time..

1966 February 17 - . 08:33 GMT - . Launch Site: Hammaguira. Launch Complex: Hammaguira Brigitte. LV Family: Diamant. Launch Vehicle: Diamant A.

Diapason - . Payload: D-1A. Mass: 19 kg (41 lb). Nation: France. Agency: CNES. Class: Earth. Type: Geodetic satellite. Spacecraft: D. USAF Sat Cat: 2016 . COSPAR: 1966-013A. Apogee: 2,484 km (1,543 mi). Perigee: 502 km (311 mi). Inclination: 34.10 deg. Period: 115.80 min. Scientific satellite 'D-I' launched from Hammaguir (Algeria)..

1967 February 8 - . 09:39 GMT - . Launch Site: Hammaguira. Launch Complex: Hammaguira Brigitte. LV Family: Diamant. Launch Vehicle: Diamant A. FAILURE: Partial Failure - injected into too low an orbit.. Failed Stage: 3.

Diademe 1 - . Payload: Diademe D-1C. Mass: 23 kg (50 lb). Nation: France. Agency: CNES. Class: Earth. Type: Geodetic satellite. Spacecraft: Diadem. USAF Sat Cat: 2674 . COSPAR: 1967-011A. Apogee: 1,084 km (673 mi). Perigee: 545 km (338 mi). Inclination: 40.00 deg. Period: 101.20 min. Orbit too low. Launch time of Diadem I was 10:39:40 on 8 Feb 1967. Launch time of Diadem II was 11:06:57 on 15 Feb 1967..

1967 February 15 - . 10:06 GMT - . Launch Site: Hammaguira. Launch Complex: Hammaguira Brigitte. LV Family: Diamant. Launch Vehicle: Diamant A.

Diademe 2 - . Payload: Diademe D-1D. Mass: 23 kg (50 lb). Nation: France. Agency: CNES. Class: Earth. Type: Geodetic satellite. Spacecraft: Diadem. USAF Sat Cat: 2680 . COSPAR: 1967-014A. Apogee: 1,733 km (1,076 mi). Perigee: 584 km (362 mi). Inclination: 39.40 deg. Period: 108.50 min. Launch time of Diadem I was 10:39:40 on 8 Feb 1967. Launch time of Diadem II was 11:06:57 on 15 Feb 1967. .

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