Ile du Levant
Ile du Levant
Credit - © Mark Wade
Type: Suborbital Launch Site. Operator: France. Country: France. Latitude: 43°03' N. Longitude: 6°28' E.

In October 1950 a military missile test site was established at the French naval base on the Ile du Levant, an offshore island in the Mediterranean near Toulon. This was named CERES (Special Weapons Research and Tests Center) in 1952 and replaced a beach site at Pampelone used for ad-hoc launches since 1948. In 1968 it was expanded to include the La Renardiere site on Pont ST Mandrier and renamed CEM (Mediterranean Test Center). La Renardiere had been used in 1945 for testing the first French liquid propelled rocket, the EA 41.

Launch Pads
  • Name: Caisson Nemo. Latitude: 43.0500 N. Longitude: 6.4700 E. Launch Pads: 1. MSBS, MSBS M1.
Ile du Levant Chronology and Launch Log
  • 1957 Jan - Test mission Launch Vehicle: Monica. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi).

  • 1957 - Test mission Launch Vehicle: Monica. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi).

  • 1959 - Test mission Launch Vehicle: Monica. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi).

  • 1959 January 27 - Test/Aeronomy mission Launch Vehicle: Daniel. Daniel 01 Apogee: 130 km (80 mi).

  • 1959 May 2 - Re-entry Vehicle Test mission Launch Vehicle: OPd-56-39-22D. OPd-56-39-22D 001 Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).

  • 1959 October 22 - Re-entry Vehicle Test mission Launch Vehicle: OPd-56-39-22D. OPd-56-39-22D 002 Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).

  • 1959 December 15 - Re-entry Vehicle Test mission Launch Vehicle: OPd-56-39-22D. OPd-56-39-22D 003 Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).

  • 1960 - Test mission Launch Vehicle: Monica. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi).

  • 1960 May 2 - Re-entry Vehicle Test mission Launch Vehicle: OPd-56-39-22D. OPd-56-39-22D 004 Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).

  • 1960 May 5 - Re-entry Vehicle Test mission Launch Vehicle: OPd-56-39-22D. OPd-56-39-22D 005 Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).

  • 1960 September 26 - Re-entry Vehicle Test mission Launch Vehicle: OPd-56-39-22D. OPd-56-39-22D 006 Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).

  • 1960 September 30 - Re-entry Vehicle Test mission Launch Vehicle: OPd-56-39-22D. OPd-56-39-22D 007 Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).

  • 1960 November 25 - Re-entry Vehicle Test mission Launch Vehicle: Antares. Antares 008 Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).

  • 1960 November 30 - Re-entry Vehicle Test mission Launch Vehicle: Antares. Antares 009 Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).

  • 1961 March 3 - Re-entry Vehicle Test mission Launch Vehicle: Antares. Antares 010 Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).

  • 1961 March 6 - Re-entry Vehicle Test mission Launch Vehicle: Antares. Antares 011 Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).

  • 1961 March 7 - Re-entry Vehicle Test mission Launch Vehicle: Antares. Antares 012 Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).

  • 1961 October 5 - Test/Aeronomy mission Launch Vehicle: Daniel. Daniel 03 Apogee: 130 km (80 mi).

  • 1961 October 9 - Test/Aeronomy mission Launch Vehicle: Daniel. Daniel 02 Apogee: 130 km (80 mi).

  • 1962 May 9 - Test mission Launch Vehicle: Belier. Failure. Belier B02

  • 1962 May 15 - Test mission Launch Vehicle: Belier. Failure. Belier B03

  • 1962 May 16 - Test mission Launch Vehicle: Belier. Belier B04 Apogee: 60 km (37 mi).

  • 1962 May 18 - Test mission Launch Vehicle: Centaure. Centaure C10 Apogee: 130 km (80 mi).

  • 1962 May 29 - Aeronomy mission Launch Vehicle: Centaure. Centaure C12 Apogee: 130 km (80 mi).

  • 1962 May 29 - Aeronomy mission Launch Vehicle: Belier. Belier B07 Apogee: 60 km (37 mi).

  • 1962 June 5 - Aeronomy mission Launch Vehicle: Centaure. Centaure C14 Apogee: 130 km (80 mi).

  • 1962 June 27 - Re-entry Vehicle Test mission Launch Vehicle: Berenice. Berenice 001 Apogee: 270 km (160 mi).

  • 1962 Q3 - Re-entry Vehicle Test mission Launch Vehicle: Berenice. Berenice 003 Apogee: 270 km (160 mi).

  • 1962 July 6 - Re-entry Vehicle Test mission Launch Vehicle: Berenice. Berenice 002 Apogee: 270 km (160 mi).

  • 1962 Nov - Re-entry Vehicle Test mission Launch Vehicle: Berenice. Berenice 004 Apogee: 270 km (160 mi).

  • 1962 November 20 - Centaure C36 Launch Vehicle: Centaure. Failure. Centaure C36

  • 1962 November 21 - Aeronomy mission Launch Vehicle: Belier. Belier B45 Apogee: 60 km (37 mi).

  • 1962 November 22 - Centaure test failure Launch Vehicle: Centaure. Failure.

  • 1962 November 22 - Aeronomy mission Launch Vehicle: Belier. Belier B41 Apogee: 60 km (37 mi).

  • 1962 November 30 - Aeronomy mission Launch Vehicle: Centaure. Centaure C37 Apogee: 130 km (80 mi).

  • 1962 December 12 - Aeronomy mission Launch Vehicle: Centaure. Centaure C24 Apogee: 130 km (80 mi).

  • 1962 December 12 - Aeronomy mission Launch Vehicle: Centaure. Centaure C25 Apogee: 130 km (80 mi).

  • 1963 May 21 - Aeronomy mission Launch Vehicle: Centaure. Centaure C48 Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).

  • 1963 June 27 - Re-entry Vehicle Test mission Launch Vehicle: Berenice. Berenice 005 Apogee: 270 km (160 mi).

  • 1963 July 3 - Re-entry Vehicle Test mission Launch Vehicle: Berenice. Berenice 006 Apogee: 270 km (160 mi).

  • 1963 July 24 - Aeronomy mission Launch Vehicle: Belier. Belier B73 Apogee: 60 km (37 mi).

  • 1963 November 19 - Test mission Launch Vehicle: Agate. Failure. Agate R

  • 1963 November 28 - Test mission Launch Vehicle: Agate. Agate R Apogee: 20 km (12 mi).

  • 1964 - Re-entry Vehicle Test mission Launch Vehicle: Berenice. Berenice 007 Apogee: 270 km (160 mi).

  • 1964 - Re-entry Vehicle Test mission Launch Vehicle: Berenice. Berenice 008 Apogee: 270 km (160 mi).

  • 1964 February 28 - Test mission Launch Vehicle: Agate. Agate R Apogee: 20 km (12 mi).

  • 1964 April 20 - Test mission Launch Vehicle: Agate. Agate R Apogee: 20 km (12 mi).

  • 1964 April 25 - Test mission Launch Vehicle: Lex. Apogee: 110 km (60 mi).

  • 1964 Oct - Re-entry Vehicle Test mission Launch Vehicle: Berenice. Berenice 009 Apogee: 250 km (150 mi).

  • 1964 Oct - Re-entry Vehicle Test mission Launch Vehicle: Berenice. Berenice 010 Apogee: 250 km (150 mi).

  • 1964 October 30 - ESRO C02 Aeronomy mission Launch Vehicle: Centaure. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).

  • 1964 November 5 - Aeronomy mission Launch Vehicle: Centaure. Centaure C64 Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).

  • 1964 November 6 - Aeronomy mission Launch Vehicle: Centaure. Centaure C71 Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).

  • 1964 November 10 - Aeronomy mission Launch Vehicle: Belier. Belier B69 Apogee: 60 km (37 mi).

  • 1965 - Test mission Launch Vehicle: Lex. Apogee: 110 km (60 mi).

  • 1965 - Test mission Launch Vehicle: Lex. Apogee: 110 km (60 mi).

  • 1965 - Test mission Launch Vehicle: Lex. Apogee: 110 km (60 mi).

  • 1965 - Re-entry Vehicle Test mission Launch Vehicle: Berenice. Berenice 011 Apogee: 270 km (160 mi).

  • 1965 February 1 - Tir 1 Test mission Launch Vehicle: Jericho. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). First launch of prototype single-stage MD.620.

  • 1965 June 23 - Aeronomy mission Launch Vehicle: Centaure. Centaure C95 Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).

  • 1965 June 23 - Aeronomy mission Launch Vehicle: Centaure. Centaure C65 Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).

  • 1965 June 24 - Aeronomy mission Launch Vehicle: Centaure. Centaure C84 Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).

  • 1965 June 24 - Aeronomy mission Launch Vehicle: Centaure. Centaure C83 Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).

  • 1965 December 23 - Test mission Launch Vehicle: Jericho. Failure. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

  • 1966 - Test mission Launch Vehicle: Jericho. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

  • 1966? - Caisson 2 Test mission Launch Vehicle: MSBS. MSBS M112 LC: Nemo. Apogee: 50 km (31 mi).

  • 1966 - Test mission Launch Vehicle: Jericho. Failure. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

  • 1966 - Titus test/Solar mission Launch Vehicle: Berenice. Berenice 012 Apogee: 270 km (160 mi).

  • 1966 - Test mission Launch Vehicle: Jericho. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

  • 1966 March 16 - Bietage Test mission Launch Vehicle: Jericho. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). First launch of two-stage version of MD.620.

  • 1966 July 12 - Caisson 1 Test mission Launch Vehicle: MSBS. MSBS M112 LC: Nemo. Apogee: 50 km (31 mi).

  • 1967 - Gymnote 4 RSO test mission Launch Vehicle: MSBS. MSBS M112 Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

  • 1967 - Test mission Launch Vehicle: Lex. Apogee: 110 km (60 mi).

  • 1967? - Test mission Launch Vehicle: Jericho. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

  • 1967 - Test mission Launch Vehicle: Lex. Apogee: 110 km (60 mi).

  • 1967 - Gymnote 2 Test mission Launch Vehicle: MSBS. MSBS M112 Apogee: 50 km (31 mi).

  • 1967 - Caisson 1 Test mission Launch Vehicle: MSBS. MSBS M011 LC: Nemo. Apogee: 50 km (31 mi).

  • 1967 - Caisson 3 Test mission Launch Vehicle: MSBS. MSBS M112 LC: Nemo. Apogee: 50 km (31 mi).

  • 1967 - Test mission Launch Vehicle: Lex. Apogee: 110 km (60 mi).

  • 1967? - Test mission Launch Vehicle: Jericho. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

  • 1967? - Test mission Launch Vehicle: Jericho. Failure. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

  • 1967? - Test mission Launch Vehicle: Jericho. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

  • 1967? - Test mission Launch Vehicle: Jericho. Failure. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

  • 1967 - Gymnote 3 Test mission Launch Vehicle: MSBS. MSBS M112 Apogee: 50 km (31 mi).

  • 1967 Apr - Weather mission Launch Vehicle: Belenos. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

  • 1967 April 19 - Gymnote 1 Test mission Launch Vehicle: MSBS. MSBS M112 Apogee: 50 km (31 mi).

  • 1967 June 28 - Test mission Launch Vehicle: Dauphin. Dauphin DA002 Apogee: 110 km (60 mi).

  • 1967 November 23 - FU169 X-ray Astronomy mission Launch Vehicle: Tacite. Failure. Tacite 002

  • 1968? - Test mission Launch Vehicle: Jericho. Failure. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

  • 1968? - Weather mission Launch Vehicle: Belenos. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

  • 1968? - Weather mission Launch Vehicle: Belenos. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

  • 1968? - Test mission Launch Vehicle: Jericho. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

  • 1968? - Test mission Launch Vehicle: Jericho. Failure. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

  • 1968? - Test mission Launch Vehicle: Jericho. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

  • 1968 - Weather mission Launch Vehicle: Epona. Belisama Apogee: 90 km (55 mi).

  • 1968 - Caisson 2 Test mission Launch Vehicle: MSBS. MSBS M011 LC: Nemo. Apogee: 50 km (31 mi).

  • 1968 January 16 - Test mission Launch Vehicle: Lex. Apogee: 110 km (60 mi).

  • 1968 March 6 - Weather mission Launch Vehicle: Epona. Epona 1 Apogee: 60 km (37 mi).

  • 1968 March 12 - Weather mission Launch Vehicle: Epona. Belisama Apogee: 90 km (55 mi).

  • 1968 May 15 - Earth IR Aeronomy mission Launch Vehicle: Tacite. Tacite 003 Apogee: 140 km (80 mi).

  • 1968 September 30 - Test mission Launch Vehicle: Jericho. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). Final test launch of Jericho/MD.620 from France. Full French military embargo of Israel took effect in January 1969 after an Israeli raid on Beirut in December 1968.

  • 1968 October 15 - Test/Astronomy mission Launch Vehicle: Tacite. Tacite 004 Apogee: 140 km (80 mi).

  • 1969 - Weather mission Launch Vehicle: Epona. Belisama Apogee: 90 km (55 mi).

  • 1969 Mar? - Test mission Launch Vehicle: Grannos. Apogee: 130 km (80 mi).

  • 1969 July 10 17:50 - CNES C82 Aeronomy mission Launch Vehicle: Centaure. Centaure 1 C82 Apogee: 114 km (70 mi).

  • 1969 July 10 12:31 - CNES C81 Aeronomy mission Launch Vehicle: Centaure. Centaure 1 C81 Apogee: 109 km (67 mi).

Bibliography and Further Reading
  • 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.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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© Mark Wade, 1997 - 2007 except where otherwise noted.
  
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