Cora (rocket)
Template:Short description Template:Infobox rocketCora was a French experimental rocket.<ref name=":0">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It was the largest rocket ever launched in Western Europe.<ref name=Serra>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It was primarily used for testing the second (Coralie) and third stages (Astris) of the multinational Europa Rocket,<ref name=":1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> which was developed and produced by the European Launcher Development Organisation, the predecessor to the present day European Space Agency.
For the Cora 1 only the French Coralie first stage was active. For the Cora 2 version the second German Astris stage was active. The Italian made Europa nose fairing was also tested.<ref name=":1" />
Configuration
The entire rocket had a length of 11.5 metres, a diameter of 2.01 m and a takeoff weight of 16.5 tonnes. Total thrust was 220.00 kN, with the rocket capable of reaching an apogee of 55 km.<ref name=":1" />
The Coralie first stage was 5.5 metres long and had a diameter of 2 metres; when fully fuelled, it weighed 9.85 tonnes; the propellant was a mixture of nitrogen tetroxide and unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine (UDMH).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It was powered by a four-nozzle engine that produced 220 KN of thrust and had a specific impulse (in vacuum) of 280 seconds. A cylindrical black ring supporting four fins was attached to the rocket's base.<ref name=":1" />
The Astris second stage was 3.36 meters long with a diameter of 2 meters; when fully fuelled, it weighed 3.370 tonnes; the propellant was a mixture of nitrogen tetroxide and Aerozine-50. It was powered by an engine that produced 23.33 kN of thrust and had a specific impulse (in vacuum) of 310 seconds.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web
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Cora 1 stages diagram
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Coralie 1st stage diagram
Launch history
Six Cora launches were planned, the first four using the Cora 1 configuration and the last two using the Cora 2.<ref name=":2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Only the three first launches took place, with the Cora 2 configuration never being tested:<ref name=":2" />
- On 27 November 1966, a first launch was conducted at the CIEES missile range and launch facility at Hammaguir, French Algeria. Guidance was lost at T+62s, with the rocket reaching an apogee of 10 km.<ref name=":2" /> It was considered a half success.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />
- On 18 December 1966, a second launch took place.<ref name=":2" /> It reached an apogee of 55 km and was considered successful.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />
- On 25 October 1967, Core was launched from Biscarrosse, Nouvelle-Aquitaine. Reaching an apogee of 10 km if failed due to a cabling issue.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />
The following planned flights were cancelled and replaced by tests of the Europa rocket (Europa 1 F7, Europa 1 F6/1 and Europa 1 F6/2).<ref name=":2" />