Topaze (rocket)

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SEREB Topaz missiles.

VE111 Topaze is the name of a French sounding rocket . It had the same diameter as the VE110 Agate , but was shorter than this and used a higher energy fuel. The rocket motor, called Soleil, worked with 1500 kg of the fuel isolan , an aluminum-ammonium-perchlorate-polyurethane composite solid propellant. The Topaze, built by the manufacturer SEREB (Société pour l'étude et la réalisation d'engins balistiques), was the first dirigible French sounding rocket. The Topaze was launched 14 times from Hammaguir between 1962 and 1965 .

It belonged to the French VE program (Véhicule experimental) for the development of air, silo or submarine-based intercontinental ballistic missiles , which also includes the VE8 , VE9 , VA10 Aigle , VE110 Agate , VE121 Emeraude , VE210 Rubis and the VE231 Saphir included . These missiles were developed by the company SEREB, founded in September 1959, on the instructions of de Gaulle from 1959 .

There were two versions of the Topaze:

Topaze VE111C (short)

Smaller initial model with NA802 drive, which was used from December 19, 1962 to December 15, 1964.

  • Payload: 410 kg
  • Summit height: 80 km
  • Starting thrust: 120.00 kN
  • Takeoff weight: 2900 kg
  • Diameter: 0.80 m
  • Length: 7.07 m

Topaze VE111L (long)

Extended version with a longer burning NA803 drive which was used from December 21, 1963 to May 21, 1965. The last two missiles launched had inertial navigation guidance and were designated as VE111LG.

  • Payload: 360 kg
  • Summit height: 110 km
  • Starting thrust: 147.00 kN
  • Takeoff weight: 3434 kg
  • Diameter: 0.80 m
  • Overall length: 7.90 m

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