Centaure (rocket)

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Centaure
File:Centaure.jpeg
Centaur rocket
Country of originFrance[1]
Applicationhigh altitude research
sounding rocket[2]

Centaure was a two-stage French sounding rocket consisting of a Venus first stage and a Belier second stage.[3][4][5] It belongs to a family of solid-propellant rockets consisting of the Belier, Centaure, Dragon, Dauphin, and Eridan.[4][5]

File:Sudav-belier-family.gif
Sud-Aviation Belier rockets evolution

It was operated by Sud-Aviation between 1961 and 1986.[3][5][6] Centaure rockets were launched from the CIEES/Hammaguir missile range, Reggane, CELPA, Salto di Quirra, Esrange, Thumba, Sonmiani, and Andøya.[5] It had a maximum payload of 60 kg, an apogee of 130-146 km,[5] a launch thrust of 44 kN, a launch weight of 500-600 kg, a diameter of 0.28 m and a length of 5.9-6.3 m.

Versions

There were various versions of Centaure rockets:[4][6][7][8][9][10]

Version Stages Gross mass (kg) Height (m) Diameter (m) Apogee (km)
Centaure Venus + Belier 457 6.02 0.28 140
Centaure 1 Venus + Belier 600 5.9 0.28 130
Centaure 2A Venus + Belier II 600 5.9 0.28 146
Centaure 2B Venus + Belier II 500 6.3 0.28 146
Centaure 2C Venus + Belier II 600 5.9 0.28 146

Launches

A large number of Centaure rockets was launched between 1961 and 1986:[6][7][8][9][10]

See also

References

  1. United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (1965). Semiannual Report to the Congress. The Administration.
  2. STAR. NASA, Office of Scientific and Technical Information. 1967.
  3. 3.0 3.1 "Fusées-sondes Bélier, Centaure et Éridan | musée des Arts et Métiers". www.arts-et-metiers.net (in français). Retrieved 2023-05-13.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Centaure". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Wade, Mark. "Centaure". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 "Centaure". www.astronautix.com. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
  7. 7.0 7.1 "Centaure 1". www.astronautix.com. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  8. 8.0 8.1 "Centaure 2A". www.astronautix.com. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  9. 9.0 9.1 "Centaure 2B". www.astronautix.com. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  10. 10.0 10.1 "Centaure 2C". www.astronautix.com. Retrieved 2023-09-05.

External links