- Topaze (rocket)
Topaze is the designation of a French
sounding rocket . The Topaze was built by SEREB (nowAérospatiale ) and was the first guidable French elevator research rocket. The Topaze was launched 14 times fromHammaguir ,Algeria by ONERA.There were two versions of the Topaze:
*Topaze VE111C
**payload weight: 410 kg (900 lb)
**total weight: 2900 kg (6400 lb)
**length: 7.07 m (23.2 ft)
**range: 80 km (49 mi)
**liftoff thrust: 120.0 kN:There were six launches between
19 December 1962 and24 October 1963 , reaching anapogee of 80 km (49 mi).* Topaze VE111L
**payload weight: 360 kg (840 lb)
**total weight: 3434 kg (7570 lb)
**length: 7.90 m (25.9 ft)
**range: 110 km (68 mi)
**liftoff thrust 147.0 kN:This version was launched eight times between
21 December 1963 and21 May 1965 , with apogees ranging from 60 km (37 mi) to 110 km (68 mi).The Topaze was also used as the second stage of the
Diamant rocket.External links
* [http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/topaze.htm AstronautixCom-LVS-Topaze Astronautix webpage]
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