Diademe

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Diademe
Diademe
Type: Research satellite
Country: FranceFrance France
Operator: CNES
COSPAR-ID : 1967-011A (Diadème 1)
1967-014A (Diadème 2)
Mission dates
Dimensions: 22.9 kg
Begin: February 8, 1967, 10:39 (Diadème 1)
February 15, 1967, 11:06 (Diadème 2)
Starting place: Hammaguir
Launcher: diamond
Orbit data
Rotation time : 104.17 min
110.0 min
Orbit inclination : 40 °
39.4 °
Apogee height :  1,084 km
1,733 km
Perigee height :  545 km
584 km

Diadème 1 and Diadème 2 (D1-C and D1-D) were two French earth satellites that were used to carry out various measurements for orbit tracking. This was achieved using the Doppler effect , laser technology and photography. They had a mass of 22.9 kg, the satellite housing (without solar cell boom) a diameter of half a meter and a height of 20 centimeters. There were five antennas on its top. There were various reflectors on the housing and on the arms to enable laser experiments to be carried out. The satellites were stabilized by magnets attached to the solar panels and aligned with the terrestrial magnetic field. They couldn't be remotely controlled.

Both satellites were launched in quick succession in February 1967 from the Hammaguir rocket launch site in Algeria with the French diamond rocket .

Doppler experiments with laser beams were carried out from three ground stations: from Saint-Michel-l'Observatoire in France, from the launch site at Hammaguir in Algeria and from Stefanion in Greece . The orbit tracking with optical means was carried out by the Observatoire de Nice in Nice . Telemetry data were received and evaluated by stations in Ouagadougou , Brazzaville , Pretoria and Las Palmas .

A very similar predecessor of the Diadème satellites was Diapason (D1-A), which was launched on February 11, 1966.

source

  • Heinz Mielke: Lexicon of space travel. 6th edition, transpress VEB publishing house for transport, Berlin, 1980

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