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Tournesol

Diamant B

National Center of Space Research

Launch Status
Success

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.

Learn more about the Diamant B

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.

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