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Test vehicle. Country: France. Status: Retired 1961.

Antares was a re-entry vehicle test booster. The first three stages lofted the fourth stage and RV model to 150 km altitude. The fourth stage then fired downward to ram the RV at Mach 7 into the atmosphere.

Manufacturer: ONERA. Launches: 13. Success Rate: 100.00%. First Launch Date: 1959-05-02. Last Launch Date: 1961-05-13. Launch data is: complete. Payload: 35 kg (77 lb). Apogee: 280 km (170 mi). Liftoff Thrust: 200.000 kN (44,960 lbf). Total Mass: 1,770 kg (3,900 lb). Core Diameter: 0.56 m (1.83 ft). Total Length: 12.10 m (39.60 ft).

  • Stage1: 1 x Vega Statoreacteur-1. Gross Mass: 800 kg (1,760 lb). Empty Mass: 250 kg (550 lb). Motor: 1 x SEPR 734-1. Thrust (vac): 200.000 kN (44,960 lbf). Burn time: 5.00 sec. Length: 3.50 m (11.40 ft). Diameter: 0.56 m (1.83 ft). Propellants: Solid.
  • Stage2: 1 x OPd-56-39-22D-2. Gross Mass: 500 kg (1,100 lb). Empty Mass: 150 kg (330 lb). Motor: 1 x Neptune. Thrust (vac): 20.000 kN (4,496 lbf). Burn time: 32 sec. Length: 3.20 m (10.40 ft). Diameter: 0.39 m (1.27 ft). Propellants: Solid.
  • Stage3: 1 x OPd-56-39-22D-3. Gross Mass: 200 kg (440 lb). Empty Mass: 40 kg (88 lb). Motor: 1 x SEPR 685-4. Thrust (vac): 33.000 kN (7,418 lbf). Burn time: 5.00 sec. Length: 2.60 m (8.50 ft). Diameter: 0.20 m (0.65 ft). Propellants: Solid.
  • Stage4: 1 x Melanie. Gross Mass: 100 kg (220 lb). Empty Mass: 40 kg (88 lb). Motor: 1 x Melanie. Thrust (vac): 38.000 kN (8,542 lbf). Burn time: 4.40 sec. Length: 3.00 m (9.80 ft). Diameter: 0.22 m (0.72 ft). Propellants: Solid.
Version:

OPd-56-39-22D.

Original designation of the Antares test vehicle.

Launches: 7. First Launch Date: 1959-05-02. Last Launch Date: 1960-09-30. Apogee: 280 km (170 mi). Liftoff Thrust: 200.000 kN (44,960 lbf). Total Mass: 1,800 kg (3,900 lb). Core Diameter: 0.56 m (1.83 ft). Total Length: 12.20 m (40.00 ft).

  • Stage1: 1 x Vega Statoreacteur-1. Gross Mass: 800 kg (1,760 lb). Empty Mass: 250 kg (550 lb). Motor: 1 x SEPR 734-1. Thrust (vac): 200.000 kN (44,960 lbf). Burn time: 5.00 sec. Length: 3.50 m (11.40 ft). Diameter: 0.56 m (1.83 ft). Propellants: Solid.
  • Stage2: 1 x OPd-56-39-22D-2. Gross Mass: 500 kg (1,100 lb). Empty Mass: 150 kg (330 lb). Motor: 1 x Neptune. Thrust (vac): 20.000 kN (4,496 lbf). Burn time: 32 sec. Length: 3.20 m (10.40 ft). Diameter: 0.39 m (1.27 ft). Propellants: Solid.
  • Stage3: 1 x OPd-56-39-22D-3. Gross Mass: 200 kg (440 lb). Empty Mass: 40 kg (88 lb). Motor: 1 x SEPR 685-4. Thrust (vac): 33.000 kN (7,418 lbf). Burn time: 5.00 sec. Length: 2.60 m (8.50 ft). Diameter: 0.20 m (0.65 ft). Propellants: Solid.
  • Stage4: 1 x Melanie. Gross Mass: 100 kg (220 lb). Empty Mass: 40 kg (88 lb). Motor: 1 x Melanie. Thrust (vac): 38.000 kN (8,542 lbf). Burn time: 4.40 sec. Length: 3.00 m (9.80 ft). Diameter: 0.22 m (0.72 ft). Propellants: Solid.
Antares Chronology

1959 May 2 - Ile du Levant -. OPd-56-39-22D 001 Re-entry Vehicle test Agency: ONERA. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).

1959 October 22 - Ile du Levant -. OPd-56-39-22D 002 Re-entry Vehicle test Agency: ONERA. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).

1959 December 15 - Ile du Levant -. OPd-56-39-22D 003 Re-entry Vehicle test Agency: ONERA. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).

1960 May 2 - Ile du Levant -. OPd-56-39-22D 004 Re-entry Vehicle test Agency: ONERA. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).

1960 May 5 - Ile du Levant -. OPd-56-39-22D 005 Date may be 19 May Agency: ONERA. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).

1960 September 26 - Ile du Levant -. OPd-56-39-22D 006 Re-entry Vehicle test Agency: ONERA. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).

1960 September 30 - Ile du Levant -. OPd-56-39-22D 007 Re-entry Vehicle test Agency: ONERA. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).

1960 November 25 - Ile du Levant -. Antares 008 Re-entry Vehicle test Agency: ONERA. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).

1960 November 30 - Ile du Levant -. Antares 009 Re-entry Vehicle test Agency: ONERA. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).

1961 March 3 - Ile du Levant -. Antares 010 Re-entry Vehicle test Agency: ONERA. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).

1961 March 6 - Ile du Levant -. Antares 011 Re-entry Vehicle test Agency: ONERA. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).

1961 March 7 - Ile du Levant -. Antares 012 Re-entry Vehicle test Agency: ONERA. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).

1961 May 13 - Hammaguira -. Antares 013 Ionosphere mission? Agency: ONERA. Apogee: 280 km (170 mi).

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© Mark Wade, 1997 - 2008 except where otherwise noted.