Tournesol
Diamant B
National Center of Space Research
Mission
Tournesol
Type: Astrophysics
French satellite designed to detect the presence of hydrogen in several directions of the celestial sphere.
Trajectory
The trajectory is unavailable. Check back for updates.
Location
Diamant Launch Area
Kourou, French Guiana
317 rockets have launched from Kourou, French Guiana.
Rocket
Diamant B – Société d’étude et de réalisation d’engins balistiques
- Family: Diamant
- Length: 23.5 m
- Diameter: 1.34 m
- Launch Mass: 18 T
- Low Earth Orbit Capacity: 160 kg
The Diamant B was manufactured by Société d’étude et de réalisation d’engins balistiques with the first launch on 1970-03-10. Diamant B has 3 successful launches and 2 failed launches with a total of 5 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 – CNES
- 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.
