Topaze (Véhicule Expérimental 111 Topaze) is the designation of a French sounding rocket. The Topaze was developed by several French companies, notably Nord Aviation and Sud Aviation,News Digest. // Aviation Week & Space Technology, January 7, 1963, v. 78, no. 1, p. 37. and built by SEREB (a joint venture of Nord and Sud, now known as Aérospatiale) and was the first guidable French sounding rocket. It was part of the Pierres précieuses (fr.: gemstones) program, that included five prototypes Agathe, Topaze, Emeraude, Rubis and Saphir, 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.
Versions There were three versions of the Topaze:
Topaze VE111 / Topaze VE111C
Details
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 Soleil NA802 "Mammouth" solid rocket engine
Launches There were launches between 1962 and 1964, reaching an apogee of 80 km (49 mi). +Topaze VE111 launchesDateMission DescriptionApogee (km)1962 December 19Test mission801963 March 22Test mission801963 March 28Test mission801963 June 21Test mission801963 June 27Test mission801963 October 24Test mission801964 June 4MSBS test, failure1964 October 21MSBS test801964 December 11MSBS test801964 December 15MSBS test80
Topaze VE111L
Details
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 Soleil 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). +Topaze VE111L launchesDateMission DescriptionApogee (km)1963 December 21Test mission110 km1964 March 11Test mission110 km
Topaze VE111LG
Details
Soleil NA803 solid rocket engine
Launches This version was launched two times in 1965. +Topaze VE111LG launchesDateMission DescriptionApogee (km)1965 May 18Test mission100 km1965 May 21Test mission100 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.
References