Tournesol
Diamant B
National Center of Space Research
Mission
Tournesol
- Type: Astrophysics
- Orbit: Low Earth Orbit
French satellite designed to detect the presence of hydrogen in several directions of the celestial sphere.
Location
Diamant Launch Area
Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana
Diamant Launch Area has witnessed the launch of 8 rockets, including 8 orbital launch attempts. While Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana, has been the site for 323 rocket launches.
The Guiana Space Centre is a European spaceport to the northwest of Kourou in French Guiana, a region of France in South America. Kourou is located at a latitude of 5°. In operation since 1968, it is a suitable location for a spaceport because of its equatorial location and open sea to the east.
Rocket
Société d'étude et de réalisation d'engins balistiques Diamant B
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
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.
