Topaze (Véhicule Expérimental111Topaze) is the designation of a French sounding rocket.[1] The Topaze was developed by several French companies, notably Nord Aviation and Sud Aviation,[2] and built by SEREB (a joint venture of Nord and Sud, now known as Aérospatiale) and was the first guidable French sounding rocket.
Military space program Pierres précieuses (fr.: gemstones) that included the five prototypes Agathe, Topaze, Emeraude, Rubis et Saphir.
It was part of the Pierres précieuses (fr.: gemstones) program, that included five prototypes Agathe, Topaze, Emeraude, Rubis and Saphir,[3] leading up to the Diamant orbital rocket.
The name indicates that it is a "Véhicule Expérimental" (Experimental Vehicle) with 1 stage, using solid propulsion (code 1), and guided (code 1).
The Topaze was launched 14 times from the CIEES launch site in Hammaguir (Hammaguira Bacchus pad), Algeria, by ONERA.[4]
This version was launched eight times between 21 December 1963 and 21 May 1965, with apogees up to 110 km (68 mi).[1][5]
Topaze VE111L launches
Date
Mission Description
Apogee (km)
1963 December 21
Test mission
110 km
1964 March 11
Test mission
110 km
Topaze VE111LG
Details
Soleil NA803 solid rocket engine
Launches
This version was launched two times in 1965.[1][5]
Topaze VE111LG launches
Date
Mission Description
Apogee (km)
1965 May 18
Test mission
100 km
1965 May 21
Test mission
100 km
Other uses
The Topaze was also used as the second stage of the Diamant rocket, the launch vehicle for France's first satellite, the Asterix-1, and the Saphir rocket.[5][3][10]
