Asterix
Diamant A
National Center of Space Research
Mission
Asterix
Type: Test Flight
First french satellite
Location
Brigitte
Interarmy Special Vehicles Test Centre, French Algeria
4 rockets have launched from Interarmy Special Vehicles Test Centre, French Algeria.
Rocket
Diamant A – Société d’étude et de réalisation d’engins balistiques
Family: Diamant
Length: 18.95 m
Diameter: 1.34 m
Launch Mass: 18 T
Low Earth Orbit Capacity: 160 kg
The Diamant A was manufactured by Société d’étude et de réalisation d’engins balistiques with the first launch on 1965-11-26. Diamant A has 4 successful launches and 0 failed launches with a total of 4 launches. The Diamant rocket (Diamant is French for “diamond”) was the first exclusively French expendable launch system and at the same time the first satellite launcher not built by either the United States or USSR. As such, it has been referred to as being a key predecessor for all subsequent European launcher projects.
Agency
National Center of Space Research
Type: Government
Abbreviation: CNES
Administration: Jean-Yves Le Gall
Founded: 1961
Launchers: Ariane 5
Spacecraft: Mars/Venus Express | Rosetta
Country: FRA
The National Center of Space Research, or CNES, is a French National Agency in charge of France’s space program. In partnership with the US and Russia, they have put 10 people in space. CNES works in tandem with the larger ESA to develop the Ariane 5 and work on other probes and satellites. They are working with Germany to develop a cheaper and more efficient reusable rocket, which hopefully will be ready to fly by 2026.
