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Sounding rocket. Country: France. Status: Retired 1969.

Two stage vehicle consisting of 1 x Elan + 1 x Aurore

Manufacturer: SNECMA. Launches: 11. Failures: 3. Success Rate: 72.73%. First Launch Date: 1964-07-01. Last Launch Date: 1969-03-01. Launch data is: complete. Apogee: 116 km (72 mi). Liftoff Thrust: 0 N ( lbf). Total Mass: 100 kg (220 lb). Core Diameter: 0.21 m (0.68 ft). Total Length: 4.90 m (16.00 ft).

  • Stage1: 1 x Belisama-1. Gross Mass: 80 kg (176 lb). Empty Mass: 32 kg (70 lb). Motor: 1 x Agnes. Burn time: 2.50 sec. Length: 1.60 m (5.20 ft). Diameter: 0.21 m (0.68 ft). Propellants: Solid.
  • Stage2: 1 x Aurore-1. Gross Mass: 50 kg (110 lb). Empty Mass: 20 kg (44 lb). Motor: 1 x Aurore. Thrust (vac): 10.500 kN (2,360 lbf). Burn time: 5.30 sec. Length: 2.10 m (6.80 ft). Diameter: 0.13 m (0.42 ft). Propellants: Solid.
Version:

Belia.

Two stage vehicle consisting of 1 x Elan + 1 x Belisama

Apogee: 92 km (57 mi). Total Mass: 100 kg (220 lb). Core Diameter: 0.21 m (0.68 ft). Total Length: 4.60 m (15.00 ft). Version:

Aurore.

Single stage vehicle.

Launches: 7. Failures: 3. First Launch Date: 1964-07-01. Last Launch Date: 1967-05-11. Apogee: 60 km (37 mi). Liftoff Thrust: 0 N ( lbf). Core Diameter: 0.13 m (0.42 ft). Total Length: 3.30 m (10.80 ft).

  • Stage1: 1 x Aurore-1. Gross Mass: 50 kg (110 lb). Empty Mass: 20 kg (44 lb). Motor: 1 x Aurore. Thrust (vac): 10.500 kN (2,360 lbf). Burn time: 5.30 sec. Length: 2.10 m (6.80 ft). Diameter: 0.13 m (0.42 ft). Propellants: Solid.
Version:

Grannos. Test vehicle.

Two stage vehicle consisting of 1 x Emilie + 1 x Melusine

Launches: 1. First Launch Date: 1969-03-01. Last Launch Date: 1969-03-01. Apogee: 143 km (88 mi). Liftoff Thrust: 0 N ( lbf). Total Mass: 200 kg (440 lb). Core Diameter: 0.21 m (0.68 ft). Total Length: 4.90 m (16.00 ft).

  • Stage1: 1 x Grannos-1. Gross Mass: 80 kg (176 lb). Empty Mass: 32 kg (70 lb). Motor: 1 x Emilie. Burn time: 2.50 sec. Length: 1.60 m (5.20 ft). Diameter: 0.21 m (0.68 ft). Propellants: Solid.
  • Stage2: 1 x Grannos-2. Empty Mass: 29 kg (63 lb). Motor: 1 x Melusine. Burn time: 8.00 sec. Length: 1.90 m (6.20 ft). Diameter: 0.16 m (0.52 ft). Propellants: Solid.
Belenos Chronology

1964 July 1 - Hammaguira -. Aurore 1 Aeronomy mission Agency: MeteoNat. Apogee: 60 km (37 mi).

1966 November 18 - 16:44 GMT - Hammaguira -. Aeronomy mission Agency: CNES?. Apogee: 50 km (31 mi).

1966 November 19 - 16:44 GMT - Hammaguira -. Aeronomy mission Agency: CNES?. Apogee: 50 km (31 mi).

1966 November 20 - 16:53 GMT - Hammaguira -. Aeronomy mission Agency: CNES?. Apogee: 50 km (31 mi).

1967 April 1 - Ile du Levant -. Weather mission Agency: SECT. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1967 May 8 - 15:47 GMT - Ile du Levant -. FAILURE: Failure. Aeronomy mission Agency: ONERA. Apogee: 0 km ( mi).

1967 May 9 - 17:57 GMT - Ile du Levant -. FAILURE: Failure. Aeronomy mission Agency: ONERA. Apogee: 0 km ( mi).

1967 May 11 - 11:47 GMT - Ile du Levant -. FAILURE: Failure. Aeronomy mission Agency: ONERA. Apogee: 0 km ( mi).

1968 March 1 - Ile du Levant -. Weather mission Agency: SECT. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1968 March 1 - Ile du Levant -. Weather mission Agency: SECT. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1969 March 1 - Ile du Levant -. Test mission Agency: SECT. Apogee: 130 km (80 mi).

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