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Model: Monica. Sounding rocket. Other Family: Retired. Country: France. Status: Retired 1963.

French low-cost, three-stage, solid-propellant sounding rocket developed in France in the 1950's in support of the International Geophysical Year.

In 1952 France's CASDN (Comité d'Action Scientifique de Défense Nationale) ordered 15 Veronique sounding rockets through DEFA (Direction des Etudes et Fabrications d'Armement) for use during the International Geophysical Year. Budget cutbacks led to delays in the Veronique program, and in 1954 CASDN turned to ATEF company (Association Technique pour l'Etude des Fusees) to develop a low-cost, three-stage, solid-propellant alternative using the existing SEPR-35 sounding rocket design as a starting point. The SEPR-35's stage and stabilizing fin scheme was used as the starting point, but three solid rocket motors using newer-technology propellants were developed: the Melanie, using Plastolite for the booster; and Theodore and Oreste, using Epictete propellant for upper stages. The names of the stages formed into the acronym Meteo, by which the rocket was known at the time the first order for 50 ATEF-14 rockets was issued.. During the third launch campaign in June 1955, the rocket was renamed Monica.

A follow-on order for 15 rockets in 1956 was for new versions with larger upper stages, dubbed the Monica IV and V.

Manufacturer: Sud Aviation. Launches: 23. Failures: 2. Success Rate: 91.30%. First Launch Date: 1955-02-25. Last Launch Date: 1963-05-29. Launch data is: complete. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). Total Mass: 100 kg (220 lb). Core Diameter: 0.16 m (0.52 ft). Total Length: 6.00 m (19.60 ft).

Model: Monica I.

Launches: 11. First Launch Date: 1955-02-25. Last Launch Date: 1957-05-28. Apogee: 50 km (31 mi). Liftoff Thrust: 0 N ( lbf). Total Mass: 100 kg (220 lb). Core Diameter: 0.16 m (0.52 ft). Total Length: 3.10 m (10.10 ft).

  • Stage1: 1 x Melanie-1. Gross Mass: 10 kg (22 lb). Motor: 1 x Melanie. Length: 1.10 m (3.60 ft). Diameter: 0.16 m (0.52 ft). Propellants: Solid.
  • Stage2: 1 x Monica I-2. Gross Mass: 10 kg (22 lb). Motor: 1 x Theodore. Length: 0.80 m (2.62 ft). Diameter: 0.13 m (0.42 ft). Propellants: Solid.
  • Stage3: 1 x Monica I-3. Gross Mass: 10 kg (22 lb). Motor: 1 x Oreste. Length: 0.50 m (1.64 ft). Diameter: 0.13 m (0.42 ft). Propellants: Solid.

Model: Monica IV.

Launches: 8. First Launch Date: 1959-10-01. Last Launch Date: 1960-02-01. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). Liftoff Thrust: 0 N ( lbf). Total Mass: 100 kg (220 lb). Core Diameter: 0.16 m (0.52 ft). Total Length: 5.10 m (16.70 ft).

  • Stage1: 1 x Melanie-1. Gross Mass: 10 kg (22 lb). Motor: 1 x Melanie. Length: 1.10 m (3.60 ft). Diameter: 0.16 m (0.52 ft). Propellants: Solid.
  • Stage2: 1 x Prosper. Gross Mass: 10 kg (22 lb). Motor: 1 x Melanie. Length: 1.20 m (3.90 ft). Diameter: 0.16 m (0.52 ft). Propellants: Solid.
  • Stage3: 1 x Prosper. Gross Mass: 10 kg (22 lb). Motor: 1 x Melanie. Length: 1.20 m (3.90 ft). Diameter: 0.16 m (0.52 ft). Propellants: Solid.

Model: Meteo.

Single stage vehicle.

Apogee: 50 km (31 mi). Liftoff Thrust: 0 N ( lbf). Core Diameter: 0.15 m (0.49 ft). Total Length: 3.40 m (11.10 ft).

  • Stage1: 1 x Meteo-1. Gross Mass: 20 kg (44 lb). Length: 3.40 m (11.10 ft). Diameter: 0.15 m (0.49 ft). Propellants: Solid.

Model: Meteo-MD.

Single stage vehicle.

Launches: 4. Failures: 2. First Launch Date: 1962-12-07. Last Launch Date: 1963-05-29. Apogee: 50 km (31 mi). Liftoff Thrust: 0 N ( lbf). Core Diameter: 0.15 m (0.49 ft). Total Length: 3.40 m (11.10 ft).

  • Stage1: 1 x Meteo-1. Gross Mass: 20 kg (44 lb). Length: 3.40 m (11.10 ft). Diameter: 0.15 m (0.49 ft). Propellants: Solid.
Monica Chronology

1955 February 25 - Hammaguira CB. Monica I I Campaign 1 to Mar 7 test Agency: CASDN. Apogee: 40 km (24 mi).

1955 April 12 - Hammaguira CB. Monica I I Campaign 2 to Apr 19 Test / aeronomy mission Agency: CASDN. Apogee: 40 km (24 mi).

1955 June 2 - Hammaguira CB. Monica I I Campaign 3 to Jun 11 Test / aeronomy mission Agency: CASDN. Apogee: 40 km (24 mi).

1955 October 2 - Hammaguira CB. Monica I I Campaign 4 to Oct 11 Test / aeronomy mission Agency: CASDN. Apogee: 40 km (24 mi).

1956 January 17 - Hammaguira CB. Monica I I Campaign 5 to Feb 2 Test / release mission Agency: CASDN. Apogee: 40 km (24 mi).

1956 May 1 - Ile du Levant -. Monica I I Test mission Agency: ATEF. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi).

1956 May 22 - Ile du Levant -. Monica I I Campaign 6 to jun 13 test Agency: ATEF. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi).

1957 January 1 - Ile du Levant -. Test mission Agency: ATEF. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi).

1957 February 1 - Ile du Levant -. Test mission Agency: ATEF. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi).

1957 May 1 - Ile du Levant -. Test mission Agency: ATEF. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi).

1957 May 28 - Ile du Levant -. Test mission Agency: ATEF. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi).

1959 October 1 - Ile du Levant -. Test mission Agency: ATEF. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi).

1959 October 1 - Ile du Levant -. Test mission Agency: ATEF. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi).

1959 November 1 - Hammaguira -. Test mission Agency: ATEF. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi).

1959 November 1 - Hammaguira -. Test mission Agency: ATEF. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi).

1959 November 1 - Hammaguira -. Test mission Agency: ATEF. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi).

1959 December 1 - Hammaguira -. Test mission Agency: ATEF. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi).

1959 December 1 - Hammaguira -. Test mission Agency: ATEF. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi).

1960 February 1 - Hammaguira -. Test mission Agency: ATEF. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi).

1962 December 7 - Hammaguira -. Meteo-MD MD-01/5 (105) FAILURE: Failure. Aeronomy mission Agency: CNES. Apogee: 21 km (13 mi).

1962 December 7 - Hammaguira -. Meteo-MD MD-01/6 (106) FAILURE: Failure. Aeronomy mission Agency: CNES. Apogee: 17 km (10 mi).

1963 May 24 - Hammaguira -. Meteo-MD MD-01/8 (108) Aeronomy mission Agency: CNES. Apogee: 60 km (37 mi).

1963 May 29 - Hammaguira -. Meteo-MD Meteo M1A 01 Aeronomy mission Agency: CNES. Apogee: 60 km (37 mi).

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