View source for Diamant

{{Short description|French small-lift launch vehicle}}
{{Other uses}}
{{more footnotes needed|date=January 2013}}
{{Infobox rocket
|name =Diamant
|image =Diamant_A.jpg
|caption =Diamant A
|function =Small [[launch vehicle]]
|manufacturer =[[SEREB]]
|country-origin =France
|cpl-year =
|cpl =
|height = {{Unbulleted list
  | '''A''': {{cvt|18.95|m}}
  | '''B''': {{cvt|23.5|m}}
  | '''BP4''': {{cvt|21.6|m}}
  }}
|diameter = {{cvt|1.34|m}}
|mass = {{cvt|18400|kg}}
|stages = 3
|capacities = 
  {{Infobox rocket/payload
  |location =  [[Low Earth orbit|LEO]]
  |kilos    =  {{cvt|160|kg}}
  }}
|status = Retired
|sites = {{Unbulleted list
  | '''A''': [[CIEES|Hammaguir]]
  | '''B/BP4''': [[Guiana Space Centre|Guiana]]
  }}
|first = {{Unbulleted list 
  | '''A''': 26 November 1965
  | '''B''': 10 March 1970
  | '''BP4''': 6 February 1975
  }}
|last = {{Unbulleted list
  | '''A''': 15 February 1967
  | '''B''': 21 May 1973
  | '''BP4''': 27 September 1975
  }}
|launches = 12 ('''A''':4, '''B''': 5, '''BP4''': 3)
|success = 9 ('''A''': 3, '''B''': 3, '''BP4''': 3)
|fail = 2 (B)
|partial = 1 (A)
|stagedata    = 
  {{Infobox rocket/stage
  |type       =  stage
  |diff       =  Diamant A
  |stageno    =  First
  |name       =  [[Emeraude (rocket)|Emeraude]]
  |engines    =  1 [[Vexin B]]
  |thrust     =  {{cvt|301.55|kN}}
  |SI         =  {{cvt|203|isp}}
  |burntime   =  93 seconds
  |fuel       =  {{chem2|[[HNO3]]}} / {{chem2|C10H16|link=turpentine}}
  }}
  {{Infobox rocket/stage
  |type       =  stage
  |diff       =  Diamant B/BP4
  |stageno    =  First
  |name       =  Améthyste
  |engines    =  1 {{ill|Valois (rocket)|lt=Valois|fr|Valois (moteur-fusée)}}
  |thrust     =  {{cvt|396.52|kN}}
  |SI         =  {{cvt|221|isp}}
  |burntime   =  110 seconds
  |fuel       =  {{chem2|[[N2O4]]}} / [[Unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine|UDMH]]
  }}
  {{Infobox rocket/stage
  |type       =  stage
  |diff       =  Diamant A/B
  |stageno    =  Second
  |name       =  [[Topaze (rocket)|Topaze]]
  |engines    =  1 [[P2.2]]
  |solid      =  yes
  |thrust     =  {{cvt|120.082|kN}}
  |SI         =  {{cvt|255|isp}}
  |burntime   =  39 seconds
  |fuel       =  Solid
  }}
  {{Infobox rocket/stage
  |type       =  stage
  |diff       =  Diamant BP4
  |stageno    =  Second
  |name       =  [[P-4 (rocket)|P-4/Rita]]
  |engines    =  
  |solid      =  yes
  |thrust     =  {{cvt|176|kN}}
  |SI         =  {{cvt|273|isp}}
  |burntime   =  55 seconds
  |fuel       =  Solid
  }}
  {{Infobox rocket/stage
  |type       =  stage
  |diff       =  Diamant A
  |stageno    =  Third
  |name       =  [[Rubis (rocket)|Rubis]]
  |engines    =  1 P-064
  |solid      =  yes
  |thrust     =  {{cvt|29.4|kN}}
  |SI         =  {{cvt|211|isp}}
  |burntime   =  39 seconds
  |fuel       =  Solid
  }}
  {{Infobox rocket/stage
  |type       =  stage
  |diff       =  Diamant B/BP4
  |stageno    =  Third
  |name       =  [[P-068 (rocket)|P-068]]
  |engines    =  
  |solid      =  yes
  |thrust     =  {{cvt|50|kN}}
  |SI         =  {{cvt|211|isp}}
  |burntime   =  46 seconds
  |fuel       =  Solid
  }}
}}
[[File:PierrePrecieusesf.png|thumb|Military space program ''{{langx|fr|pierres précieuses}}'' (fr.: gemstones) that included the five prototypes [[Agate (rocket)|Agathe]], [[Topaze (rocket)|Topaze]], [[Emeraude (rocket)|Emeraude]], [[Rubis (rocket)|Rubis]] and [[Saphir (rocket)|Saphir]].]]
The '''Diamant''' rocket (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. The head of the project, [[Charley Attali]], received the [[Legion of Honour]] in 1965 for the Diamant.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-05-15 |title=Charley Chalom ATTALI : ingénieur|url=https://ajoc.fr/docassoc/charley_attali.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211026121820/https://ajoc.fr/docassoc/charley_attali.pdf |archive-date=2021-10-26 |access-date=2024-06-29 |website=Association des Juifs Originaires du Constantinois |language=fr-FR}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2006-05-10 |title=לגיונר של כבוד שהניח את התשתית לתעשיית המטוסים
|url=https://www.haaretz.co.il/misc/2006-05-10/ty-article/0000017f-e3f6-d804-ad7f-f3fef1410000 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240629213026/https://www.haaretz.co.il/misc/2006-05-10/ty-article/0000017f-e3f6-d804-ad7f-f3fef1410000 |archive-date=2024-06-29 |access-date=2024-06-29 |website=הארץ |language=he-IL}}</ref>

During 1962, development of the Diamant commenced as the inaugural [[spacecraft]] project of France's space agency, the [[CNES|Centre National d'Études Spatiales]] (CNES). As a project, it was derived from the military program ''pierres précieuses'' ({{Literal translation|[[Gemstone|gemstones]]}}) that included the five prototypes [[Agate (rocket)|Agate]], [[Topaze (rocket)|Topaze]], [[Emeraude (rocket)|Emeraude]], [[Rubis (rocket)|Rubis]] and [[Saphir (rocket)|Saphir]] ([[Agate]], [[Topaz]], [[Emerald]], [[Ruby]] and [[Sapphire]]),<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Capdevila |first=Didier |title=Les Constellations et les Pierres Précieuses |url=http://www.capcomespace.net/dossiers/espace_europeen/espace_francais/pierres_precieuses.htm |access-date=2023-08-29 |website=Capcom Espace}}</ref> and drew heavily upon the knowledge and technologies that had been previously developed. On 26 November 1965, the Diamant A performed its [[maiden flight]]. Out of a total of 12 launch attempts to be performed between 1965 and 1975, 9 of these were successful. Most notably, on 26 November 1965, the Diamant was used to successfully launch the first French satellite, named [[Astérix (satellite)|Astérix]].

Three successive versions of the Diamant [[rocket]] were developed, designated ''A'', ''B'' and ''BP4''. All versions had three stages and a payload of approximately 150&nbsp;kg for a 200&nbsp;km orbit. Despite the success of the Diamant as a launcher, France ultimately chose to terminate further work on its national launcher program in favour of participation in the multi-European programme to produce what would become the [[Ariane (rocket)|Ariane]] launcher in 1975.

== Development ==
===Background===
During the late 1940s and 1950s, substantial interest arose amongst the international powers of the era in the development of [[rocket]]ry and [[missile]] technology, in particular the prospects for [[ballistic missile]]s capable of travelling great distances. Both of the emergent [[superpower]]s of the time, the United States and the [[Soviet Union|Union of Soviet Socialist Republics]] (USSR) chose to invest heavily within this new field, observing its political and military importance; it was not long before a highly competitive atmosphere emerged where neither entity wished to fall behind the other in missile technology, which directly led to the so-called '[[space race]]'.<ref name = "ble gei hub 50 51">Bleeker, Geiss and Huber 2012, pp. 50-51.</ref> In addition, other nations also sought to make headway with this technology, often seeking to exploit and build upon knowledge which had been acquired from [[Nazi Germany]]'s [[V-2 rocket|V2]] programme. In western Europe, both the United Kingdom and France began making significant early steps in this field.<ref name = "ble gei hub 50 51"/><ref name = "turn 8"/>

While Britain forged ahead with programmes such as the [[Black Knight (rocket)|Black Knight]] ballistic missile demonstrator and the military-orientated [[Blue Steel (missile)|Blue Steel]] missile programme, France also made progress on its own efforts.<ref name = "ble gei hub 51">Bleeker, Geiss and Huber 2012, p. 51.</ref> During 1949, the French government established the [[:fr:Laboratoire de recherches balistiques et aérodynamiques|Laboratoire de Recherches Balistiques et Aérodynamiques]] at [[Vernon, Eure|Vernon]], outside [[Paris]], for the purpose of pursuing its own military-focused ballistic missiles programmes. The agency initially conducted relatively straightforward and cost-conscious programmes, such as the development of the V2-based [[Véronique (rocket)|Veronique]] liquid-fuelled rocket in cooperation with a number of German scientists, which first flew during 1954.<ref name = "ble gei hub 51 52">Bleeker, Geiss and Huber 2012, pp. 51-52.</ref> During 1957, having been suitably encouraged by the progress made, the [[Comité d'Action Scientifique de Défense Nationale]] (CASDN) decided to finance further refinements of the Veronique rocket.<ref name = "ble gei hub 52">Bleeker, Geiss and Huber 2012, p. 52.</ref>

During 1958, French wartime military leader [[Charles de Gaulle]] became [[President of France]], establishing the [[French Fifth Republic|Fifth Republic]].<ref name = "ble gei hub 52"/> De Gaulle, who was openly keen to develop a capable and fully independent French nuclear deterrent, determined that French-built missiles could comprise a potent element of the French military's fledgling nuclear arsenal, known as the [[Force de dissuasion|Force de frappe]]; further impetus in favour of missile development was generated by the [[Sputnik crisis]], a fear that other powers were falling behind the Soviet Union's progress in missile development, which had been provoked by the USSR's success with [[Sputnik 1]], the first man-made [[satellite]] to be successfully orbited.<ref name = "ble gei hub 52"/> A greatly expanded and renewed framework for missile-related development was promptly issued alongside generous government support for scientific research; specifically, the new efforts covered technologies such as [[intermediate-range ballistic missile]]s (IRBMs), [[submarine-launched ballistic missile]], and [[reconnaissance satellite]]s.<ref name = "ble gei hub 52"/>

===Emergence and success===
During 1959, the French government established the [[CNES|Comité de Recherches Spatiales]] (CRS), which would later be renamed as the [[CNES|Centre National d'Études Spatiales]] (CNES).<ref name = "ble gei hub 52"/> The newly formed CRS, initially chaired by the French physicist [[Pierre Victor Auger|Pierre Auger]], was tasked with the coordination of all French research efforts in the field of space. From an early stage, the organisation's primary goal was to pursue the development of an indigenous [[expendable launch system]] with which payloads, such as satellites, could be launched into [[orbit]].<ref name = "ble gei hub 52"/> The indigenous launcher, which was promptly named ''Diamant'', drew heavily from the military ballistic missile programmes which had preceded it; as such, much of the rocket's design was based upon these early missiles.<ref name = "ble gei hub 52"/>

On 26 November 1965, the first Diamant rocket was fired from its launch site, the [[CIEES]] testing range, at [[Hammaguir]], [[Béchar Province]], [[Algeria]].<ref name = "ble gei hub 52 1673">Bleeker, Geiss and Huber 2012, pp. 52, 1673.</ref> This [[maiden flight]] was deemed to be a success, achieving sufficient altitude and launching French's first satellite, a 42&nbsp;kg test vehicle known as [[Astérix (satellite)|Astérix]], into orbit; this feat has been viewed as cementing France as the third space power in the world, as well as affirming its independence and strategic capabilities. During 1966 and 1967, Diamant was used to launch three French-built scientific satellites.<ref name = "ble gei hub 52"/> On 9 April 1968, the [[Guiana Space Centre]], France's new national launching complex at [[Kourou]], [[French Guiana]], was officially declared to be operational; Diamant launches were subsequently shifted to this facility, along with various other missiles in use by France and, later on, other European nations as well.<ref name = "ble gei hub 52 105">Bleeker, Geiss and Huber 2012, pp. 52, 105.</ref>

On 10 March 1970, the first ''Diamant B'' rocket, an improved model of the launcher, was fired, carrying a pair of scientific satellites, named ''DIAL/MIKA'' and ''DIAL/WIKA'', into orbit.<ref name = "ble gei hub 52"/> Only one of the two satellites, which had been produced as a collaborative effort between France and Germany to study the [[Van Allen radiation belt]] around the Earth, survived the launch process.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1970-017B| title=DIAL/MIKA - NSSDC ID: 1970-017B|publisher=NASA NSSDC}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1970-017A|title=DIAL/WIKA - NSSDC ID: 1970-017A| publisher=NASA NSSDC}}</ref> Overall, the Diamant rocket came to be recognised as a successful and reliable launch vehicle, competitive amongst even the best of its international competitors throughout the world during its time.<ref name = "ble gei hub 93">Bleeker, Geiss and Huber 2012, p. 93.</ref>

===Successor and discontinuation===
While Diamant had proven to be a viable and reliable launcher, the sheer size of the American and Soviet space programmes far exceeded what would be realistically achievable not only by France but by any of the independent nations of western Europe.<ref name = "turn 8"/> As this realisation became prevalent, it was also recognised that cooperative efforts between nations and a new generation of international programmes would enable these nations to play a much greater and significant role in space exploration. Early collaborative programmes, such as the [[European Launcher Development Organisation]] (ELDO) and [[European Space Research Organisation]] (ESRO), bore mixed results but showed the promise of such endeavours, thus a greater emphasis was placed upon international efforts on the topic of space.<ref name = "turn 8">Turner 2008, p. 8.</ref>

As a consequence of Britain's withdrawal from participation in the ELDO, it was decided to replace the British-built [[Blue Streak (missile)|Blue Streak]], which comprised the first stage of the organisation's multinational launcher, known as [[Europa (rocket)|Europa]], with the French-built Diamant taking its place.<ref name=europa>{{cite encyclopedia |first=Mark |last=Wade |url=http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/europa.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020305192355/http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/europa.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 5, 2002 |title=Europa |encyclopedia= Encyclopedia Astronautica}}</ref> All work on the Europa programme was terminated only a few years later due to the high failure rate encountered. Meanwhile, Britain decided to focus its efforts on the indigenous [[Black Arrow]] launcher instead.

During 1974, the [[European Space Agency]] (ESA) was founded for this purpose; the ESA effectively enabled the competing and overlapping national space programmes to be succeeded by a single organised multinational framework with work shared between the member states instead.<ref name = "turn 8"/> Specifically, in 1976, work commenced on the new collaborative [[Ariane 1]] launcher, the first version of what would become the highly successful [[Ariane (rocket family)|Ariane family]]. The existence of the Ariane programme, a rival launcher to the earlier Diamant rocket, effectively replaced the demand for and the role of France's indigenous launcher, rendering it obsolete and redundant in comparison. France ultimately decided to discontinue further launches using Diamant in favour of the newer Ariane platform.<ref name = "turn 8"/>

== Variants ==

=== Diamant A ===
[[File:Fusee Dimant A musee du Bourget P1010586.JPG|thumb|right|Diamant A seen from the [[Payload fairing|fairing]] in [[Musée de l'Air]]]]
[[File:Fusee-Diamant-A-Musee-du-Bourget_P1010661.jpg|thumb|Diamant A seen from the rear end in [[Musée de l'Air]]]]
[[File:LRBA Vexin - Musée Safran.jpg|thumb|Vexin engine used on Diamant A first stage]]
This was the first version of the Diamant rockets, operational between 1965 and 1967.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 29, 2004 |title=Nov. 26, 1965: France Begins Launch Legacy with Diamant |url=https://spacenews.com/nov-26-1965-france-begins-launch-legacy-diamant/ |access-date=2022-08-13 |website=SpaceNews |language=en-US |quote=On Nov. 26, 1965, France launched the 45-kilogram Asterix 1 test satellite aboard its Diamant rocket from the Hammaguir launch base in Algeria. ... The Diamant-A followed its first successful launch with three more launches, flying for the final time in February 1967. |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220813232632/https://spacenews.com/nov-26-1965-france-begins-launch-legacy-diamant/ |archive-date=August 13, 2022}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2010-05-27 |title=Diamant |url=http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/diamant.htm |access-date=2024-09-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527070658/http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/diamant.htm |archive-date=2010-05-27 }}</ref> Remarkably for a newly developed system, all of the first four launches attempted launched were partly successful, the only failure occurring on the second launch when the payload was inserted into a lower orbit than planned.  

Completely assembled, a Diamant A was 18.95 metres high and weighed 18.4 metric tons.<ref name=":0" />

It possessed a first stage of 9.92m length, 1.34 metres in diameter, and a weight of 14.7 [[metric ton]]s.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Les lanceurs Diamant A |url=http://www.capcomespace.net/dossiers/espace_europeen/espace_francais/diamant_A.htm |access-date=2024-09-23 |website=www.capcomespace.net}}</ref> The first stage had a ''Vexin B'' [[nitric acid]]/[[turpentine]] engine supplying a thrust of 274&nbsp;kN for 93 seconds.<ref name=":2" />{{verify source|date=October 2024}}

The ''Topaze'' second stage was 4.70 metres long and had a diameter of 80 centimetres. It weighed 2.93 metric tons and had a four [[Solid-propellant rocket|solid propellant]] engine that developed a thrust of 150&nbsp;kN for a duration of 44 seconds.<ref name=":2" /> 

The third stage is 1.85 m long and weighed 708 kilograms. Its ''P064'' solid-propellant engine burned for 45 seconds and developed a thrust of 52&nbsp;kN.<ref name=":2" />

=== Diamant B ===
Diamant B was an improved version of the Diamant A with a more powerful first stage, being able to place a  190 kg payload at a 200 km orbit inclined at 5°, a 25 kg payload at a 1000 km orbit, or a 130 kg payload in low polar orbit.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Les lanceurs Diamant B et BP4 |url=http://www.capcomespace.net/dossiers/espace_europeen/espace_francais/diamant_B.htm |access-date=2024-09-23 |website=www.capcomespace.net}}</ref>

Five satellite launches were attempted between 1970 and 1973, of which the last two failed. All launches took place from [[Guiana Space Centre|Kourou]] in French Guiana.

Completely assembled, a Diamant B was 23.5 metres high and weighed 26.9 metric tons.<ref name=":0" />

Its ''Améthyste'' first stage was 14.2 meters long, had a diameter of 1.4 metres and weighed 20 metric tons. Its ''LRBA Valois'' N<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub>/UDMH engine developed a thrust of 315&nbsp;kN for 116 seconds.<ref name=":3" /> 

The ''Topaze'' ''P-2.2'' second stage had one P4 solid propellant engine that developed a thrust of 150&nbsp;kN for a duration of 44 seconds.<ref name=":3" /> 

The ''P06'' third stage was 1.66 metres long and had a diameter of 80 centimetres. Its ''P0.68'' solid propellant engine developed a thrust of 50&nbsp;kN for 46 seconds.<ref name=":3" />

=== Diamant BP4 ===
This version incorporates a new second stage, while carrying the first and third stages over from its predecessor.<ref name=":3" /> It performed three successful launches in 1975, putting a total of four satellites into orbit. 

Completely assembled, a Diamant BP4 measured 22.68 metres high and weighed 20.3 metric tons.<ref name=":0" /> 

Its ''Rita'' ''P-4'' second stage, which was derived from the [[M1 (missile)|MSBS]] rocket, was 2.28 metres long, 1.51 metres in diameter and its ''P4'' solid propellant engine developed a thrust of 176&nbsp;kN for 55 seconds.<ref name=":3" />

== Launch history ==
{|class="wikitable"
|-
|+Diamant flights{{cn|date=September 2023}}
! style="text-align:center;" | Date (UTC)
! style="text-align:center;" | Variant
! style="text-align:center;" | Payload
! style="text-align:center;" | Launch site
! style="text-align:center;" | Outcome
! style="text-align:center;" | Notes
|-
| 26 November 1965, 14:47
| Diamant&nbsp;A
| [[Astérix (satellite)|Astérix]]
| [[Hammaguir]]
| {{Success}}
| 
|-
| 17 February 1966, 08:33
| Diamant&nbsp;A
| {{ill|Diapason (satellite)|fr}}
| [[Hammaguir]]
| {{Success}}
| 
|-
| 8 February 1967, 09:39
| Diamant&nbsp;A
| [[Diadème (satellites)]] (Diadème I)
| [[Hammaguir]]
| {{Partial failure}}
| Orbit lower than planned
|-
| 15 February 1967, 10:06
| Diamant&nbsp;A
| [[Diadème (satellites)]] (Diadème II)
| [[Hammaguir]]
| {{Success}}
| 
|-
| 10 March 1970, 12:20
| Diamant&nbsp;B
| {{ill|DIAL (satellite)|lt=DIAL|fr|DIAL}} (MIKA / WIKA)
| [[Guiana Space Centre|Guiana]]
| {{Success}}
| 
|-
| 12 December 1970, 13:04
| Diamant&nbsp;B
| {{ill|PEOLE|fr}}
| [[Guiana Space Centre|Guiana]]
| {{Success}}
| 
|-
| 15 April 1971, 09:19
| Diamant&nbsp;B
| {{ill|Tournesol (satellite)|fr}}
| [[Guiana Space Centre|Guiana]]
| {{Success}}
| 
|-
| 5 December 1971, 16:20
| Diamant&nbsp;B
| {{ill|Polaire (satellite)|fr}}
| [[Guiana Space Centre|Guiana]]
| {{Failure}}
| Second stage failure
|-
| 21 May 1973, 08:47
| Diamant&nbsp;B
| {{ill|Castor et Pollux (satellites)|fr}}
| [[Guiana Space Centre|Guiana]]
| {{Failure}}
| Fairing separation failure
|-
| 6 February 1975, 16:35
| Diamant&nbsp;BP4
| {{ill|Starlette et Stella|fr}} (Starlette)
| [[Guiana Space Centre|Guiana]]
| {{Success}}
| 
|-
| 17 May 1975, 10:32
| Diamant&nbsp;BP4
| Castor / Pollux
| [[Guiana Space Centre|Guiana]]
| {{Success}}
| 
|-
| 27 September 1975, 08:37
| Diamant&nbsp;BP4
| {{ill|Aura (satellite français)|fr}}
| [[Guiana Space Centre|Guiana]]
| {{Success}}
| 
|}

{{Clear}}

== See also ==
{{Portal|Spaceflight}}
* [[Aggregat 8]]
* [[Comparison of orbital launcher families]]
* [[French space program]]

==References==
===Citations===
{{reflist|30em}}

===Bibliography===
{{refbegin}}
* Bleeker, J. A., Johannes Geiss and M. Huber. ''The Century of Space Science''. Springer Science & Business Media, 2012. {{ISBN|9-40100-320-3}}.
* Turner, Martin J. L. ''Rocket and Spacecraft Propulsion: Principles, Practice and New Developments''. Springer Science & Business Media, 2008. {{ISBN|3-54069-203-7}}. 
{{refend}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.capcomespace.net/dossiers/espace_europeen/ariane/index.htm Capcom eSpace] (French-language page with history on French/ESA rockets)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100829092732/http://www.astronautix.com/fam/diamant.htm ''Encyclopedia Astronautica''] (Diamant)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150824124341/http://www.astronautix.com/fam/ve.htm ''Encyclopedia Astronautica''] (Precious Stones series of French rockets built in the 1950s-1960s)
{{French rockets}}{{Expendable launch systems}}
{{European launch systems}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2014}}

[[Category:1973 in spaceflight]]
[[Category:Space program of France]]
[[Category:Rockets and missiles]]
[[Category:Space launch vehicles of France]]
[[Category:CNES]]