Diamant Rocket Family

CNES / SÉREB

After the Agate, Topaz, Emerald, Ruby and Sapphire sounding rockets, Diamant-A, the first French orbital rocket, was launched on November 26th, 1965. It carried Astérix, the first French (and first non US or USSR launched) satellite.

March 10th, 1970 saw the launch of the first Diamant-B with DIAL-WIKA & DIAL-MIKA. The last variant, Diamant-BP4, first launched on February 6th 1975 with Starlette.

Based on the Pierres Precieuses (Precious Stones) suborbital rocket family, the Diamant-A consisted of the Émeraude first stage with Vexin-B engine, a Topaze second stage with SEP P2.2 solid rocket motor and a Turquoise third stage with SEP P0.64 solid rocket motor. Diamant-B and BP4 used the Améthyste first stage with LRBA Valois engine. Diamant-B shared its second stage with Diamant-A, but Diamant-BP4 used the Rita second stage with SEP P4 solid rocket motor. Both B and BP4 used the SEP P0.68 third stage.

After a disasterous first attempt at a european launcher with the Europa I & II rockets, the newly formed European Space Agency's Ariane rocket meant the end of the Diamant program.