Diamant B Credit - © Mark Wade Media Gallery

As a follow-on to the Diamant-A, CNES decided to evolve a more capable launch vehicle. The Diamant-B used a new first stage with 50% more propellants and 33% more thrust; the same second stage; and a fatter third stage. Six Diamant-B boosters were ordered. Originally four of these were to be used to test the Europa 2 launch vehicle's Perigee-Apogee System. These tests were cancelled and instead CNES used five of the six boosters for orbital attempts.

Manufacturer: SEREB. Launches: 5. Failures: 2. Success Rate: 60.00%. First Launch Date: 1970-03-10. Last Launch Date: 1973-05-21. Launch data is: complete. LEO Payload: 160 kg (350 lb). to: 200 km Orbit. Associated Spacecraft: D, Dial MIKA, Dial WIKA, Peole. Liftoff Thrust: 349.000 kN (78,458 lbf). Total Mass: 26,990 kg (59,500 lb). Core Diameter: 1.50 m (4.90 ft). Total Length: 23.50 m (77.00 ft).

• Stage Number: 1. 1 x Stage: Diamant B-1. Gross Mass: 21,500 kg (47,300 lb). Empty Mass: 3,500 kg (7,700 lb). Thrust (vac): 396.522 kN (89,142 lbf). Isp: 251 sec. Burn time: 110 sec. Isp(sl): 221 sec. Diameter: 1.40 m (4.50 ft). Span: 2.30 m (7.50 ft). Length: 14.08 m (46.19 ft). Propellants: N2O4/UDMH. No Engines: 4. Engine: Vexin C. Other designations: L-17. Status: Out of production.

• Stage Number: 2. 1 x

• Stage Number: 3. 1 x Stage: Diamant B-3. Gross Mass: 800 kg (1,760 lb). Empty Mass: 120 kg (260 lb). Thrust (vac): 50.000 kN (11,240 lbf). Isp: 211 sec. Burn time: 46 sec. Isp(sl): 211 sec. Diameter: 0.80 m (2.62 ft). Span: 0.80 m (2.62 ft). Length: 1.67 m (5.47 ft). Propellants: Solid. No Engines: 1. Engine: P6. Other designations: P-6. Status: Out of production.

1970 March 10 - 12:20 GMT - Launch Site: Kourou. Launch Complex: Diamant. Launch Pad: Diamant. Launch Vehicle: Diamant B. Model: Diamant B. LV Configuration: Diamant B No. 1.

• DIAL-WIKA Nation: Germany. Payload: DIAL Wissenschaftliche Kapsel. Mass: 63 kg (138 lb). Class: Technology. Spacecraft: Dial WIKA. Agency: CNES/BMw. Perigee: 301 km (187 mi). Apogee: 1,631 km (1,013 mi). Inclination: 5.40 deg. Period: 104.20 min. COSPAR: 1970-017A. USAF Sat Cat: 4344. Decay Date: 1978-10-05. Engineering package. References: 1, 2, 5, 6.

• Dial MIKA Nation: France. Payload: DIAL Mini Kapsel/P068. Mass: 52 kg (114 lb). Class: Technology. Spacecraft: Dial MIKA. Agency: CNES/BMw. Perigee: 310 km (190 mi). Apogee: 1,638 km (1,017 mi). Inclination: 5.40 deg. Period: 104.56 min. COSPAR: 1970-017B. USAF Sat Cat: 4345. Decay Date: 1974-09-09. Engineering package; monitored launch vehicle performance. References: 1, 2, 5, 6.

• Peole Nation: France. Mass: 70 kg (154 lb). Class: Communications. Spacecraft: Peole. Agency: CNES. Perigee: 634 km (393 mi). Apogee: 750 km (460 mi). Inclination: 15.00 deg. Period: 98.60 min. COSPAR: 1970-109A. USAF Sat Cat: 4801. Decay Date: 1980-06-16. Gathered data from meteorological balloon system. References: 1, 2, 5, 6.

• Tournesol Nation: France. Payload: D-2A. Mass: 96 kg (211 lb). Class: Earth. Type: Geodetic. Spacecraft: D. Agency: CNES. Perigee: 457 km (283 mi). Apogee: 696 km (432 mi). Inclination: 46.30 deg. Period: 96.20 min. COSPAR: 1971-030A. USAF Sat Cat: 5128. Decay Date: 1980-01-28. References: 1, 2, 5, 6.

• D-2A Polaire Nation: France. Payload: D-2A Polaire. Class: Earth. Type: Atmosphere. Spacecraft: D. Agency: CNES. COSPAR: F711205B. References: 279.

• Castor (D 5A) Nation: France. Payload: D 5A. Class: Technology. Spacecraft: D. Agency: CNES. COSPAR: F730521A. Decay Date: 1972-05-21. References: 5, 126.

• Pollux Nation: France. Payload: D-5A. Spacecraft: D. Agency: CNES. COSPAR: F730521B. References: 279.

• McDowell, Jonathan, Jonathan's Space Home Page, Harvard University, 1997-present. Jonathan McDowell's complete on-line listing of all objects orbited and over 20,000 rocket launches Accessed at: http://www.planet4589.org/jsr.html.

• Gatland, Kenneth, Missiles and Rockets, Macmillan, New York, 1975. ISBN: 0713735058. Covers rocketry of all nations. More at amazon.com...

• Serra, Jean-Jacques, Rockets in Europe, . Accessed at: http://www.univ-perp.fr/fuseurop/index_e.htm.