Europa Program

The First European Launcher

The Europa Program was organized by the European Launcher Development Organisation (ELDO) to develop the first European launch vehicle; the Europa rocket. It's first stage consisted of the cancelled British Blue Streak IRBM powered by the RZ.2 engine. France would supply the Coralie second stage powered by four Vexine engines. The third stage was the German Astris stage powered by an Astris engine.

Test flights would start in 1964 with launches of the Blue Streak stage. In 1966 three test flights of the Cora rocket took place with only the Coralie first stage active, and the Astris upper stages inert. Only one flight was successful. Two Europa-I flights with both upper stages inert were successful, but all subsequent flights with active Coralie and Astris stages failed. A last attempt to fly the Europa-II lancher with PAS (Perigee-Apogee System) fourth stage in 1971 also failed.

The lack of results revealed the problems within the ELDO organization, and the Europa Program was cancelled. ELDO would merge with ESRO to form ESA, which would pursue the development of the Ariane Project.